The first atomic bomb test in New Mexico on July 16, 1945 opened the door to the dangerous nuclear arms races we have seen ever since. J. Robert Oppenheimer, a leader in the Manhattan Project that developed the atomic bomb during World War II, thought after the blast, “Now, I am become Death, the destroyer of worlds.”

But we must also remember a moment of hope 18 years after that first nuclear weapons test by the United States, code-named Trinity.

In July, 1963 President John F. Kennedy addressed the nation: “I speak to you tonight in a spirit of hope. Eighteen years ago the advent of nuclear weapons changed the course of the world as well as the war. Since that time, all mankind has been struggling to escape from the darkening prospect of mass destruction on earth.”

JFK announced the signing of the Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty with the Soviet Union: “Yesterday a shaft of light cut into the darkness. Negotiations were concluded in Moscow on a treaty to ban all nuclear tests in the atmosphere, in outer space, and under water.”

Keep in mind this treaty came almost one year after the Cuban Missile Crisis brought the U.S. and Soviet Union to the brink of nuclear war in October 1962. Nuclear weapons testing was prolific on both sides even during the crisis. The world needed some hope.

The 1963 Limited Nuclear Test Ban Treaty provided some restraint on the nuclear arms race. It was the beginning of hope and each subsequent nuclear arms control treaty since then has tried to build momentum toward disarmament and peace.

But today, as we dreadfully know, so much more needs to be done as there are over 12, 500 nuclear weapons in the world, according to the Arms Control Association. About 90% of these weapons are held by the U.S. and Russia.

Progress toward nuclear disarmament has stalled. Nuclear states are modernizing their arsenals. The war in Ukraine has even raised the horrifying possibility of nuclear weapons being used by Russia.

A new report from the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons confirms again that too much money is wasted on nukes. Their report says nine nuclear-armed states spent $82.9 billion on their nuclear weapons in 2022, more than $157,000 per minute.

We have to do better. Nuclear spending is out of control and is wasting precious resources while also adding to existing global tensions. As nuclear spending runs wild, food aid programs to provide relief to those starving are low on funds.

The United States and the other nuclear states need to divert spending away from nuclear arsenals and toward global food aid. This can be done by reducing reliance and emphasis on nukes. There must also be a resumption of negotiations for treaties to reduce nuclear arsenals.

The United States, Russia and China should lead in nuclear disarmament. Instead of thousands of nukes worldwide, why not bring that number down to hundreds on a relatively quick basis?

Reducing the nukes can offer a vision for all on how to get to zero weapons. There will be much more security for every nation with fewer nukes, and hopefully zero.

William Lambers is the author of The Road to Peace and partnered with the U.N. World Food Program on the book “Ending World Hunger.” His writings have been published by the NY Times, Newsweek, the Cleveland Plain Dealer and many other news outlets.

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