Newly Unbound, Trump Weighs More Nuclear Arms and Underground Tests

The article discusses the potential implications of the expiration of the last Cold War nuclear arms treaty, the New START, and the possibility of a new nuclear arms race. It highlights that President Trump is considering increasing the US nuclear arsenal and resuming underground nuclear tests, moves that could escalate tensions with other nuclear powers. The article states that it is unclear whether this is a deliberate strategy to spur new negotiations on a nuclear accord, or if it signals the start of a new arms race. The expiration of the New START treaty has unbound the major nuclear powers, leaving them free to pursue their own nuclear policies, potentially leading to a more unstable and dangerous global security landscape. The article suggests that the future direction of nuclear arms control remains uncertain, with the potential for increased nuclear competition or renewed diplomatic efforts to establish a new framework for nuclear arms reduction and stability.