Western Powers' Communication Problems With Russia & China May Heighten Risk of Nuclear War
06:58 GMT 28.07.2022 (Updated: 11:19 GMT 28.07.2022)
© Sputnik / Press Service of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation / Go to the mediabankLaunch of the Sarmat stationary intercontinental ballistic missile from the Plesetsk cosmodrome in the Arkhangelsk region.
© Sputnik / Press Service of the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation
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A “series of negotiations and dialogues” conducted during the Cold War afforded both the western and Soviet blocs “a higher level of confidence” that a nuclear war wouldn't break out because of a miscalculation. Now, however, the West lacks “the same foundations with others” who may threaten it, says UK security advisor Stephen Lovegrove.
His remarks come as US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi seems about to visit Taiwan, even though Beijing has repeatedly warned that if the US maintains official contacts with the island, it will impinge on China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
The steadily growing flow of weapons from western countries to Ukraine during the ongoing conflict in the country has also led some politicians to express concerns that the crisis there might escalate and devolve into the Third World War.
The head of US Strategic Command, Admiral Charles Richard, declared that StratCom is “at battle stations,” in part because of Russia’s actions described by him as “thinly veiled nuclear coercion”, the Nebraska Examiner notes.
“What previously in some cases had been thought to be a theoretical or highly improbable event has actually been demonstrated in real life,” Richard said at the US Strategic Command’s 2022 Deterrence Symposium.
He also admitted that the US “never before had to deter two peer nuclear-capable opponents at the same time who have to be deterred differently”, apparently referring to Russia and China.
“I do know this: business as usual is not going to work anymore,” Richard added.