The foreign policy moves of US President Donald Trump are causing concerns worldwide. There are remarks suggesting that a new nuclear arms race may be on the horizon. According to claims, the number of nuclear-armed states could reach 25.

According to the Financial Times newspaper, a new era of nuclear weapons has begun worldwide with the return of US President Donald Trump.

During the Cold War era, the United States and the Soviet Union had at least agreed on one thing. Both parties agreed that nuclear armament was bad for everyone. President John F. Kennedy, who was troubled by the situation, opened negotiations for the Prevention of Spread of Nuclear Weapons Treaty in the 1960s.

The treaty, which came into effect in 1970, was based on the idea that disarmament could be achieved by expanding the American nuclear umbrella, implying that allies did not need a nuclear weapon for deterrence.

TRUMP’S FOREIGN POLICY MOVES However, Trump’s foreign policy moves, his closeness to Russia, his distant attitude towards NATO and Europe, have inevitable questions for allied states from Berlin to Warsaw, Seoul to Tokyo.

What will happen if Washington’s nuclear shield to its allies is removed? How will they prepare for such a possibility?

FIVE NUCLEAR WEAPON STATES According to the Prevention of Spread of Nuclear Weapons Treaty, nuclear-armed states are limited to the five permanent members of the United Nations Security Council: the United States, Russia, China, France, and the United Kingdom.

However, North Korea, the only country to withdraw from the treaty, and Israel, India, and Pakistan, which never signed the treaty, are among the countries that have developed nuclear weapons.

NUMBER OF NUCLEAR-ARMED STATES COULD REACH 25 Analysts suggest that due to Trump’s particularly strong stance towards Russia, allies in Europe and Asia are planning to build their own nuclear shields.

According to the Financial Times, Trump’s foreign policy could increase the number of nuclear-armed states to 25.

EVALUATING NUCLEAR OPTIONS Countries currently evaluating nuclear options include Germany, Poland, South Korea, and Japan. Germany is discussing the idea of sharing nuclear weapons with France and the United Kingdom.

Poland wants to host American nuclear warheads on its territory.

Japan and South Korea intend to consider nuclear weapons as a deterrent against China and North Korea.