As tensions with Russia heighten, the U.S., Europe and Ukraine brace for potential nuclear threats, setting up a stark reminder of Cold War-era fears.
W.J. Hennigan writes for The New York Times.
In short:
- U.S. intelligence flagged a 50-50 chance of Russia using nuclear weapons if Ukraine breached its Crimea defenses, prompting preparations including radiation detectors and medical training against radiation exposure.
- A "Tiger Team" developed a nuclear response playbook for the Biden administration, reflecting increased concerns of a nuclear strike's likelihood in modern conflicts.
- Russia's explicit warnings and the strategic deployment of tactical nuclear weapons underscore the grim reality of nuclear risks today.
Key quote:
"...most of the world has barely registered the threat. Perhaps it’s because an entire generation came of age in a post-Cold War world, when the possibility of nuclear war was thought to be firmly behind us. It is time to remind ourselves of the consequences in order to avoid them."
— W.J. Hennigan, New York Times opinion writer
Why this matters:
Today's nuclear threat is much broader than the Russia-Ukraine war, Hennigan notes, and involves a new generation of weapons with unpredictable results. The renewed possibility of nuclear conflict between major powers injects urgency into global efforts for diplomacy and nuclear non-proliferation, directly impacting global security and the broader aim of preventing catastrophic health and environmental consequences.
Peter Dykstra: From the Cold War to today, from nuclear weapons to nuclear power, Ukraine’s been there.
