The Speaker of the Lithuanian Parliament, J. Olekas, expressed concerns this week about the increasing tensions following the expiration of the New START treaty, which previously regulated the nuclear arsenals of the US and Russia. He indicated that the era marked by agreements aimed at reducing strategic weapons resulted in a safer international environment, whereas the absence of such treaties could lead to conflicts being resolved through military means, including changes to territorial borders.

The New START treaty, signed in 2010, limited each country to a maximum of 1,550 deployed strategic nuclear warheads and 700 deployed delivery vehicles, such as missiles and bombers. As the treaty has come to an end, there are apprehensions that it could spark a new arms race, where nations might expand their nuclear stockpiles and engage in heightened military posturing. Activists are calling for nuclear-armed states to initiate discussions to avoid escalation.

The ramifications of the treaty's expiration could reshape global security dynamics, especially in the context of increasing tensions between major powers. The Lithuanian perspective highlights the broader concerns shared by various nations regarding the potential for militarization and the implications for international peace and stability. The calls to resume negotiations emphasize the need for cooperative approaches to disarmament to mitigate the risks of conflict.