This episode explores the renewed danger of nuclear tensions in a world once hopeful for disarmament. The collapse of key treaties—such as the INF Treaty and the uncertain future of New START—has weakened the global arms control framework. At the same time, major powers like the U.S., Russia, and China are modernizing and expanding their arsenals, while regional flashpoints in North Korea and Iran heighten instability.

North Korea’s ongoing nuclear tests and long-range missile development have made it a de facto nuclear state, while Iran’s fluctuating compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal (JCPOA) has reignited fears of proliferation in the Middle East. Meanwhile, great power rivalry has returned, with Russia’s nuclear threats during the war in Ukraine and China’s rapid arsenal buildup reshaping global deterrence dynamics.

The episode discusses how diplomacy, deterrence, and disarmament coexist uneasily in the modern world. While deterrence remains central to preventing large-scale war, the risks of accidents, miscalculation, and cyber interference are increasing. Efforts like the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) reflect growing global frustration with nuclear double standards.

Ultimately, the episode concludes that humanity stands at a critical crossroad: to renew cooperation and rebuild arms control—or risk entering a new nuclear age defined by fear and instability. True security, it argues, will come not from stockpiles of weapons but from the courage to choose restraint and dialogue.