A group of Buddhist monks from the Nipponzan Myohoji order completed a 1,000-mile Walk for Peace on Monday, arriving in Washington D.C. after departing San Francisco in October 2025. The monks undertook the journey to advocate for nuclear disarmament and commemorate the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
The walk follows a tradition established by the order's founder, who organized similar peace marches beginning in the 1950s. The monks carried a portable shrine and chanted prayers at each stop, drawing attention to their message of nuclear abolition at a time when global nuclear arsenals are expanding rather than shrinking.
What the Left Is Saying
Progressive peace organizations have welcomed the monks' advocacy, noting that nuclear disarmament aligns with international treaties like the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. Representative Barbara Lee stated that the United States should lead by reducing its nuclear stockpile and working toward multilateral arms control agreements.
Activists with the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons argue that the Biden administration's planned $1.7 trillion nuclear modernization program contradicts American commitments to nonproliferation. They point to the monks' journey as a moral reminder that nuclear weapons remain an existential threat requiring urgent action.
What the Right Is Saying
Conservative defense analysts argue that unilateral disarmament would weaken American deterrence capabilities at a time when China and Russia are expanding their nuclear forces. Senator Tom Cotton has stated that nuclear weapons have prevented great power conflicts for 80 years and that abandoning this deterrent would invite aggression from adversaries.
The Heritage Foundation notes that while peace advocacy is commendable, nuclear disarmament requires verifiable reciprocal action from nations like North Korea, Iran, China, and Russia. They argue that maintaining a credible nuclear triad is essential to protecting allies and preventing nuclear blackmail.
What the Numbers Show
The United States currently maintains approximately 3,700 nuclear warheads, down from a Cold War peak of 31,255 in 1967. Russia has roughly 4,480 warheads, China an estimated 500, and eight other nations possess smaller arsenals. The Federation of American Scientists reports that global stockpiles have declined 88% since their 1986 peak but remain capable of destroying civilization multiple times over.
The Congressional Budget Office projects the U.S. will spend $756 billion on nuclear forces between 2023 and 2032. Public opinion polling shows Americans split roughly evenly on whether the U.S. should reduce its nuclear arsenal, with support varying significantly by party affiliation.
The Bottom Line
The monks' arrival in Washington comes as nuclear policy debates intensify amid rising global tensions. While the walk itself is symbolic, it highlights a policy area where domestic political divisions mirror broader international disagreements about whether nuclear weapons remain necessary for security or represent an unacceptable danger. The monks plan to hold prayer vigils outside the Capitol and meet with congressional offices to press their case for disarmament.