I don’t think the superpowers ever had an appetite for disarmament. The 1968 non-proliferation treaty was simply to stop MORE nations from acquiring nuclear weapons (in a fairly powerless way). It has always been a “rules for thee, but not for me” concept.
Russia and the US are patting themselves on the back to limiting themselves to 1500 weapons on the latest START treaty, and there’s really quite little way to prove that’s even true. Neither will give up the right to be the first to fire.
Even the 2021 Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons fairly toothless given that only two nations gave up their weapons (South Africa and Kazakhstan - and voluntarily, not via enforcement) and others seem to be funding the weapons-possessing powers in exchange for protection and other benefits.
I don’t think the superpowers ever had an appetite for disarmament. The 1968 non-proliferation treaty was simply to stop MORE nations from acquiring nuclear weapons (in a fairly powerless way). It has always been a “rules for thee, but not for me” concept.
Russia and the US are patting themselves on the back to limiting themselves to 1500 weapons on the latest START treaty, and there’s really quite little way to prove that’s even true. Neither will give up the right to be the first to fire.
Even the 2021 Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons fairly toothless given that only two nations gave up their weapons (South Africa and Kazakhstan - and voluntarily, not via enforcement) and others seem to be funding the weapons-possessing powers in exchange for protection and other benefits.