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As The Wall Street Journal writes, arms control is weakening, states are increasing their nuclear stockpiles, and the threat of the spread of dangerous weapons is becoming increasingly real. The use of tactical nuclear weapons to achieve military goals is increasingly being discussed.

The history of the fear of nuclear war

Fear of a nuclear holocaust first arose in 1945, after the atomic bomb test in New Mexico. At the height of the Cold War, President John Kennedy called the proliferation of nuclear weapons one of the main threats to humanity. For decades, the global security system has relied on international treaties, mutual deterrence, and technological limitations to prevent worst-case scenarios.

The end of the era of agreements

After nuclear stockpiles peaked in the 1980s, they began to decline thanks to agreements between the United States and the Soviet Union, such as the 1991 Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START). Today, however, many key treaties have either been canceled or are under threat. The remaining restrictions will expire soon.

In response to growing threats from Russia and China, the United States is discussing the need to modernize and expand its nuclear capabilities, which could provoke a new arms race. China, in turn, plans to double its nuclear stockpile by 2035, but refuses to participate in negotiations with the United States and Russia.

The dangers of tactical nuclear weapons

While strategic arsenals have been shrinking, concerns about tactical nuclear weapons are growing. It has less power and can be used in local conflicts. Russia has repeatedly hinted at the possibility of using such weapons in the war with Ukraine, expanding the conditions for their use.

Proliferation of nuclear weapons

The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons is losing its effectiveness. Although most countries have signed it, some remain on the sidelines, and North Korea has withdrawn from the agreement altogether. Iran is rapidly approaching its own nuclear arsenal, and Saudi Arabia is likely to follow suit.

New challenges for the USA

In light of new threats, the United States may reconsider its nuclear deterrence strategy. The Biden administration’s recent decision to allow Ukraine to use Western missiles against Russia may indicate that fear of a nuclear threat from Moscow no longer dictates Washington’s actions.

The world is on the threshold of a new era in which nuclear weapons are once again becoming a key element of global politics and conflict.

Previously, Kursor reported that Iran’s nuclear program will be the focus of attention in 2025.