The Nuclear Arms Control Charade
THE ACTORS The primary actors in this evolving 'end of an era' are the nuclear weapon states, specifically the United States, Russia (and formerly the Soviet Union), and increasingly, China. The Financial Times article implicitly focuses on the bilateral frameworks that defined much of the post-Cold War era. Lesser-acknowledged actors include the defense contractors and strategic think tanks that
shape policy, and whose financial health is tied to perceived threats and corresponding military hardware procurement. THE FUNDING The nuclear arms race and its subsequent 'control' mechanisms are inseparable from state military budgets. For instance, the United States' nuclear modernization program, estimated at $1.5 trillion over 30 years (Congressional Budget Office, 2021), directly funds
companies like Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin. Similarly, Russia's modernization efforts are tied to major state-owned defense enterprises. The strategic arms limitation talks, while ostensibly about reduction, often served as benchmarks against which these colossal expenditures were justified annually. For example, during the 1980s, the Reagan administration's defense buildup, including the
Strategic Defense Initiative, was presented as necessary to counter Soviet capabilities, driving further investment from both sides. THE INCENTIVES For nuclear powers, the incentive for arms control has historically been twofold: to present an image of responsible global stewardship while simultaneously limiting the capabilities of rivals in areas where they might achieve parity or superiority.