How the US is fuelling the nuclear arms race

At a time when global conflict is increasing, nuclear-armed states are adding fuel to the fire by reaffirming their commitments to nuclear weapons and abandoning arms control agreements. Join us to discuss the pivotal role the US plays in the escalation of nuclear tensions worldwide.

Like other nuclear-armed states the US has been ramping up spending on nuclear weapons at a time when it should be prioritising the material needs of its citizens and investing in combating the climate crisis.

Donald Trump says that he wants ‘the world’s most robust, credible, and modern nuclear deterrent’ and the US is set to pour $2 trillion over the next 30 years into developing new nuclear missiles, planes, submarines and warheads. Meanwhile Trump is squaring up to other nuclear-armed leaders and has threatened to resume potentially devastating nuclear testing.

The US can project its nuclear threat globally – far beyond its borders. It already has nuclear weapons stationed in several European countries, including Britain. These deployments, whilst presented as offering shared security for host countries actually increase the risk of them becoming targets in the event of conflict.

What does all this mean for global security and what are the threats to the national sovereignty of other countries? And what can we do to push for global security and nuclear disarmament? To discuss these questions and more New Internationalist co-editor Amy Hall will be joined by:

• Sophie Bolt, Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND)
• Ivana Hughes, Nuclear Age Peace Foundation
• Ludo Brabander, Vrede
• Dae-Han Song, International Strategy Center, No Cold War Collective, Korea Policy Institute