– Vladimir Putin recklessly threatens the nuclear tactical weapons against Ukraine. This is the equivalent of an atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima, ”said Welch on Tuesday evening at the Senate meeting.
He also noticed that China's nuclear arsenal is rapidly growing and now according to estimates, he already exceeds 600 weapons, and North Korea also gradually increases its reserves of the head and ballistic missiles.
Welch also expressed fears that extremist groups can gain enriched uranium for the construction of a primitive nuclear device. Welch's fears coincide with the opinions of various supporters of the control of arms and scientific organizations that have long monitored the threat of nuclear conflict.
Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (Bulletin of Atomic Scientists), known for the “Clock of the Holocaust”, which indicates how close humanity is, consistently warns against the dangers associated with nuclear weapons and climate change. Arms Control Association (Armaments Association), a post -party organization, also often in favor of the need for diplomatic solutions to nuclear weapons problems.
Welch emphasized that many of thousands of contemporary nuclear weapons are “many times more powerful” than those that destroyed Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945. At the same time, he expressed concern about the unilateral power that one person, such as the president, has to start a nuclear war without compulsory previous consultations.
A single “tactical” nuclear weapon, whether accidentally or intentionally, can cause an “avalanche of escalation of actions using a much more powerful strategic weapon, which will cause unpredictable losses in people, widespread radioactive contamination and destruction on an unprecedented scale in the history of humanity” – warned the politician.
According to Welch, the number of direct victims of such a conflict could reach “dozens or hundreds of millions”, and countless crowds of people would die of hunger as a result of universal destruction of the natural environment.
The senator criticized what he described as common complacency in the Congress and Administration in relation to the threat of nuclear conflict.
Doctrine from the Cold War
He also argued that although “mutual guaranteed destruction” – the doctrine from the Cold War, according to which the ability of both sides to retaliate them from the attack – historically stopped the use of nuclear weapons, now it is insufficient, considering “capricious leaders such as Vladimir Putin and Kim Jong Un.”
Welch also emphasized how the war in Ukraine directly influenced nuclear stability. He pointed out that the ongoing conflict in Russia contributed to Moscow in February 2023 to suspend participation in the new Treaty of Start. This document, signed in 2010, limits the number of strategic nuclear heads and bombs that may have the United States and Russia, and predicts extensive verification means.
Although Russia publicly declared the intention to comply with the number limits specified in the treaty regarding the placed strategic nuclear heads, the suspension of the treaty suspended key inspections and exchange of information, hindering verification activities.
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New agreement needed
If a new agreement is not reached before the expiry of the Treaty in February 2026, “there will be no restrictions on the number of strategic nuclear weapons that the United States and Russia can be distributed,” Welch warned, which may lead to a dangerous increase in the arsenals that have not been seen since the 1980s.
Welch emphasized the duty of countries with nuclear weapons resulting from a system on non -spreading nuclear weapons (NPT) from 1968 to “conducting negotiations in good faith on effective means regarding the early cessation of the nuclear arms race and nuclear disarmament.” NPT is a basic international treaty aimed at preventing the spread of nuclear weapons and promoting nuclear disarmament.
At the end, he stated that despite “sharp differences with the rule of Russia and China”, inflamed by events such as the war in Ukraine, all nuclear powers “are just as interested in preventing the impossible nuclear war as we do.”
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Alex Raufoglu is a correspondent of Kyiv Post in Washington. He deals with the matters of the US Department of State and regularly travels with the Secretary of State of the USA. Raufoglu worked intensively in the South Caucasus and Black Sea region for several international television stations, such as VOA, BBC, RFE/RL, etc. It has a master's degree in interactive journalism obtained at the American University in Washington.
I’m Ashley Davis as an editor, I’m committed to upholding the highest standards of integrity and accuracy in every piece we publish. My work is driven by curiosity, a passion for truth, and a belief that journalism plays a crucial role in shaping public discourse. I strive to tell stories that not only inform but also inspire action and conversation.
