Global Security Challenges

Global security challenges in 2026 pose pressing threats to the United States, from nuclear proliferation to regional conflicts and emerging technologies.

Nuclear Threats and Arms Control

Nuclear weapons remain a top concern as Russia, China, and North Korea expand arsenals amid the New START treaty’s expiration on February 5, 2026, risking arsenal growth and NPT review failures. Learn the 50-year history of U.S.-Russia arms control treaties, how the U.S. tracks Russia’s nuclear arsenal without a treaty, and what New START’s expiration means for nuclear war risk.

Regional Conflicts

The Middle East stays volatile with Gaza and Iran tensions, while the 2026 National Defense Strategy pivots to the Western Hemisphere, enforcing a Trump Corollary to the Monroe Doctrine against threats like Venezuela regime change. Explore Trump’s Gaza peace plan and Venezuela regime change risks.

Alliances and Partnerships

U.S. alliances face pressures with selective multilateralism and transactional engagement. Review debates on America’s NATO role and Indo-Pacific strategy against China.