Insecurity and vulnerability of nuclear weapon states

Nature

Fear is a major proponent of the mutual, self-perpetuating distrust between nuclear weapon states. Their insecurity promotes the construction of "worst-case scenarios" wherein each nation imagines the enemy's most ingenious and devastating schemes and then prepares to be capable of retaliating with enough severity to deter anyone from ever putting such plans into action. Because the process is reciprocal, it risks turning the arms race into a mutually self-fulfilling prophecy. Adversaries which view one another as warlike and treacherous find their belief verified by the response each other makes in the face of such threats. Each notes the other's military build-up, aggressive propaganda, efforts at subversion, massive arms sales and donations abroad, and its violations of international law.

Incidence

The incidence of insecurity and vulnerability among nuclear weapon states is underscored by the presence of approximately 13,000 nuclear warheads globally, with nine countries possessing these arsenals. The geopolitical landscape is marked by heightened tensions, particularly in regions such as South Asia, where India and Pakistan maintain a precarious balance of power. Additionally, the risk of nuclear proliferation is exacerbated by ongoing conflicts and the potential for non-state actors to acquire nuclear materials, raising concerns about the security of nuclear stockpiles.
A notable example of this vulnerability occurred in 2017, when North Korea conducted its sixth nuclear test, claiming to have successfully tested a hydrogen bomb. This event heightened global tensions and prompted widespread condemnation, particularly from the United States and South Korea. The test, conducted underground at the Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Site, illustrated the precarious nature of security among nuclear states and the potential for escalation in an already volatile region.

Claim

Insecurity among nations undermines joint action to reduce the risks of nuclear catastrophe at every step. Keeping pace with the escalating powers of destruction, distrust also spurs them on, while blocking all moves to curb them. Out of a degree of insecurity and distrust that once would have seemed pathological, the nuclear weapon states now compete with one another in perfecting the means to global catastrophe.

Counter-claim

The notion that the insecurity and vulnerability of nuclear weapon states is a pressing problem is vastly overstated. These nations possess immense military capabilities and sophisticated defense systems, rendering them far less vulnerable than suggested. The focus should shift from fearmongering about nuclear threats to addressing more immediate global issues, such as poverty and climate change. Overemphasizing nuclear insecurity distracts from real challenges and undermines efforts to foster genuine international cooperation and peace.