Dear Editor,
On Thursday February 5th, 2026, the very last treaty, the new Strategic Arms Limitation Treaty (SALT) that sought to limit the development and number of nuclear weapons, will expire. This is the first time since the 1960s that the world would be without such a treaty. This will increase the already great dangers that face our world.
The Russia President, Vladimir Putin, had proposed that this treaty be extended for another year while a new treaty is being hammered out, at least between Russia and the United States, if not with all countries in possession of those weapons of mass destruction. So far, the US has not responded.
This is occurring at a time when many conflicts are ongoing and causing unimaginable sufferings and millions of deaths in the world.
The genocide and ethnic cleansing are continuing in Palestine, in the Gaza, the West Bank and in East Jerusalem. This is despite the cease fire brokered by President Trump of the USA. This, of course, is not surprising since Israel, with the full backing of the United States carries out their horrendous crimes with total impunity. Many experts on genocide have concluded that more than five hundred thousand Palestinians have been killed since October 7th, 2023. This is tragic and one of the most shameful pages in human history. No other people have had to endure what the Palestinians are forced to bear.
In a few days we will be commemorating four years since the proxy war against Russia began. Ukraine has been used by NATO to try to inflict a military and an economic defeat on Russia. Some two million persons, mainly Ukrainians have died in that war. Yet European NATO countries continue to arm Ukraine in what is now obviously a futile attempt to defeat Russia. Since it is Ukrainians that are dying, the European states seem not to give a damn. This is the extent of their concern for Ukrainians.
Tensions are high in the Middle East as the United States continue to threaten Iran with war. It appears that such an attack would not remain local but can easily develop into a regional war and even a wider conflict is possible.
In our own region tensions are growing. The January 3rd kidnapping of the Venezuelan President reminds us that no country is safe from aggression. America has shown once more that it is not a respecter of law, and it is ready to use its enormous power to achieve its ends. It has set itself up as the world’s sole super colonial power.
Cuba is being threatened with military intervention. At the moment the economic sanctions imposed by the US is becoming much more severe. The new measure is an oil embargo on the island. This is causing real hardships to the people on that island, all because they dare to pursue an independent path of development. The Cuban example has to be destroyed due to fear that it would become attractive to other nations in the region; therefore the US is making its economy scream.
The United States, by those very oppressive measures is hoping to create dissatisfaction among the masses before they engage the island in a military invasion.
Even though we have seen some disagreements between the United States and the European NATO states many of those countries have adopted very aggressive positions. The US is openly threatening Denmark in its bid to seize Greenland and even Canada has been threatened and had some tariffs placed on it. There are even fears being expressed that the US is encouraging separatist forces in Canada.
France is adopting a very hostile attitude to many of its former colonies in Africa. Burkina Faso has been one of its main targets because it is trying to correct some of the historic wrongs that colonialism had imposed, particularly its efforts to take control of its own natural resources.
Added to this already dangerous situation is the weakening of International Institutions. The UN, the most important body is being undermined and subverted. Resources are being withheld from it to increases its woes.
In the midst of these burning conflicts, this treaty is coming to an end.
It stands to reason that many middle-developed countries are feeling very vulnerable. This was expressed very clearly and eloquently by the Prime Minister of Canada in his Davos speech last month. He even called for closer relations with countries at a similar level of development as Canada, in subsequent speeches.
In light of the ever-increasing insecurity and the growing aggressiveness by the United States in particular, many leaders would be thinking of how to secure their sovereignty.
The flawed thesis that to preserve peace a country should prepare for war could lead many non-nuclear states across the world to try to acquire nuclear weapons. Many Cubans and elements in Venezuela must be feeling sorry that they do not possess those weapons in view of what happened and the ever-increasing threats
Clearly, we can have a proliferation of countries trying to acquire nuclear weapons. If this happens then the danger of wars could be increased tremendously.
Some time ago the famous scientist, Albert Einstein, noted that “You cannot simultaneously prevent and prepare for war.”
Without any agreements, any guard rails to limit and eliminate nuclear weapons we are all in very grave danger. The possibility of such a war will dramatically increase.
Therefore, we must all make our voices heard in demanding first that this new SALT treaty be extended until new agreements are reached to reduce the amount of nuclear weapons in the world and earnest work be done to eliminate them completely.
This would be an important first step towards total disarmament.