In response to the rising nuclear threat, US President Trump proposed negotiations with Russia. China, and North Korea. The US wants to reduce its nuclear arsenals, and deal with the escalating rhetoric following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
President Joe Biden announced the United States was prepared to engage in nuclear threat reduction negotiations with Russia, China and North Korea. He said this in his remarks of congratulations to the Nihon Hidankyo group, a group comprised of Japanese Hiroshima-Nagasaki survivors who advocate nuclear disarmament.
After the invasion of Ukraine, Russia’s nuclear rhetoric has increased. Russia’s frequent threats of nuclear war, including updates to their nuclear doctrine, are meant to discourage Western military aid for Ukraine, especially long-range weapons that can strike deep inside Russia. This rhetoric has influenced the Western countries’ approach towards supporting Ukraine. They have struck a careful balance between deterrence, support and deterrence.
“The United States is ready to engage in discussions with Russia, China and North Korea to reduce the threat of nuclear weapons without preconditions.” Biden said that delaying progress in reducing nuclear arsenals would not benefit our nations or the rest of the world.
He said that nuclear risks are crucial, particularly in the current geopolitical environment.
The move comes amid ongoing NATO discussions about possible increases in nuclear weapon deployment to counter perceived threats from Russia, China and other countries.
Experts see Russian nuclear threats as empty words
Russia recently proposed updating its conditions for the use of nuclear weapons. This includes scenarios such as “aggression by a nonnuclear country against Russia with the support or participation of a nuclear nation” and “receiving reliable information about massive launches of air and space weaponry against Russia with these weapons crossing Russian border.”
The Institute for the Study of War believes that these threats are intended to discourage Western countries from providing Ukraine long-range weapons at key moments during military aid discussions.
Many experts believe that Russia’s constant nuclear saber rattling is the reason for these adjustments. Analysts say that despite frequent nuclear threats, the likelihood of nuclear use is low. Past threats were largely empty rhetoric.
Jens Stoltenberg, NATO Secretary General, stated that Russia’s threats to use nuclear weapons should not discourage military aid for Ukraine. Stoltenberg stressed the importance of continuing support for Ukraine despite Putin’s changes in Russia’s nuclear policy. He noted that NATO had not observed any changes that would require a change to its stance.
The Nihon Hidankyo Association, which advocates nuclear disarmament and is part of the Japanese Council of Organizations of Victims of the Atomic Bombings of Hiroshima & Nagasaki (JCOVHA), won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2024.
Biden praised the efforts of the two women to highlight the devastating impact nuclear weapons have on humanity, saying that “humanity must hear their story.”
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