**Third Nuclear Age Looms: UK Armed Forces Chief Warns**
The world is on the brink of a “third nuclear age,” where Western democracies face threats from authoritarian states seeking to challenge global rules, according to Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, head of the U.K.’s armed forces.
Radakin made this warning on December 4 at the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI). He expressed concern about Russia’s wild threats of tactical nuclear use and its deepening alliances with North Korea and Iran. The admiral also mentioned the deployment of thousands of North Korean soldiers on the border of Ukraine, as well as Russian forces using Iranian-supplied drones.
Radakin said the world is aligning into three groups: authoritarian states (Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran), responsible nations, and countries like India and Brazil that are hedging between the two for their own advantage. He emphasized that this third nuclear age will be characterized by proliferating nuclear and disruptive technologies, with a lack of security architectures to counter them.
**UK’s Deterrence Strategy**
Despite the dire warning, Radakin assured that there is only a “remote chance” Russia would directly attack or invade a NATO country due to the alliance’s nuclear umbrella. He said the strategy of deterrence by NATO works and is working but must be kept strong against a more dangerous Russia.
**Ukraine and the OSCE**
The same day, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha strongly opposed any agreements resembling past Yalta or Minsk deals that could legitimize Russian aggression at the OSCE Ministerial Council meeting in Malta. He emphasized that no leader of the democratic world would allow ultimatums from authoritarian states.
**Ukraine’s Military Successes**
Ukrainian Air Force intercepted 30 out of 44 Russian drones launched overnight, and Russia fired two Iskander-M ballistic missiles during the assault, according to Ukrainian military reports.
**Global Response Needed**
Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp emphasized the need for NATO and its allies to address third countries aiding Russia’s war effort. Romanian authorities also declassified evidence of a highly organized social media campaign backed by a state actor to boost pro-Russian presidential candidate Calin Georgescu in a recent vote.
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