Special feature

The Fourth Nuclear Age: The Perilous Geopolitics of a Spiralling Arms Race

Date: March 2, 2026

The world has entered a Fourth Nuclear Age, defined by multipolarity, the collapse of bilateral arms control, and a dangerous reconceptualisation of nuclear strategy from deterrence to warfighting. Conventional conflicts between nuclear-armed rivals and the U.S. strike on Iran’s nuclear facilities signal a fundamental breakdown in global security norms. Together with the erosion of the non-proliferation regime, they are pushing the international security environment toward the nuclear precipice. With great powers modernising their arsenals unchecked, Dr. Zafar Nawaz Jaspal argues that the Fourth Nuclear Age is potentially the most perilous yet.