A new film called “The Brink of War” takes us back in time to the October 1986 Summit in Reykjavík, Iceland, between President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev. The stakes were high at this summit.
With the United States and the Soviet Union each having tens of thousands of nuclear weapons, there was the horrifying possibility of a war that could end civilization. Instead of war, the two leaders talked about getting rid of nukes. As President Reagan told the American people after the summit, “We are closer than ever before to agreements that could lead to a safer world without nuclear weapons.”
The Iceland summit did set the stage for reducing nukes with the INF Treaty (1987) and the START I Treaty (1991). But even with those and subsequent agreements, there are still at least 12,000 nuclear weapons in the world today, according to the Arms Control Association.
President Reagan’s dream of a world free of nuclear weapons is unfinished business. As we mark the International Day for the Total Elimination of Nuclear Weapons (Sept. 26), we should remember the power that helped the Iceland summit and the treaties that followed. This behind-the-scenes force was the citizens of the United States who advocated for nuclear disarmament and peace.
President Reagan told the nation after the Iceland summit, “I have always regarded you, the American people, as full participants. Believe me, without your support none of these talks could have been held, nor could the ultimate aims of American foreign policy — world peace and freedom — be pursued.”
That is why it’s so important for the American people to support a nuke-free world today. It should be an issue that brings Americans together across party lines, for we are better off pursuing reductions in nuclear weapons.
Reviving nuclear disarmament talks is urgent, especially after the New START Treaty (2010) limiting U.S. and Russian nuclear arms expired in February. The United States and Russia should seek a new treaty reducing their arsenals from thousands of weapons down to hundreds. As we try to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, we should pursue the nuclear weapons elimination that Reagan dreamed of.
We must engage with China, North Korea, India, Pakistan and other nuclear states on reducing their arsenals as well. All nuclear states should ratify the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty, which can be done relatively quickly. This treaty would help build some much-needed momentum for nuclear arms control and disarmament.
With so many wars and arms races ongoing, far too many precious resources are being wasted. Instead of spending billions on nuclear weapons, we could feed the hungry and fight disease.
We need people today to share Reagan’s dream of eliminating nuclear weapons. It may feel overwhelming, but if you partner with groups like Back from the Brink or UNFOLD ZERO, you can take action. The whole world is better off trying to eliminate dangerous and expensive nuclear weapons.
William Lambers is the author of “Nuclear Weapons and the Road to Peace” and partnered with the UN World Food Program on the book “Ending World Hunger.” His writings have been published by the Washington Post, Newsweek, History News Network and other media outlets.