I have blogged about Russia's reckless and aggressive talk about the possible use of tactical nuclear weapons in case of a war with NATO in Easter Europe. The Russian annexation of the Crimea and the support of Ukrainian separatists has aroused the concern of NATO that such a war might be coming. Over the past several years, Russia has repeatedly intruded in the airspace and territorial waters of other nations with nuclear-armed planes and submarines in an obvious attempt at intimidation. Russia has over four thousand nuclear warheads ready to launch at the U.S. at a moment's notice. With fears of a new Cold War rising, the U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has warned that Russia is the biggest security threat that the U.S. faces.
Modernization of existing nuclear weapons systems and development of new weapons systems have been a top priority for Vladimir Putin, the Russian President despite the current difficulties of the Russian economy. Recently there was a Defense Ministry meeting at the Kremlin where the Russian leader repeated his dedication to enhancing and expanding the Russian nuclear arsenal.
Putin told his defense chiefs that new nuclear weapons should go to "all parts" of the trio of nuclear delivery systems including the air, land and sea forces. Putin directed the Russian military to "continue its program of training drills and devote special attention to the transport of troops over long distances as well as strategic nuclear deterrence and the ability to airlift forces including anti-aircraft, missile and electronic elements.” Putin also said that they must focus on improving the "effectiveness of missile-attack warning systems and aerospace defense."
The Russian Defense Minister said that about fifty-six percent of Russian nuclear weapons are new. These new weapons include new versions of missiles, upgraded aircraft, and improved submarine capability. He also said that the Russian military will be provided with five new nuclear regiments equipped with "modern missile complexes" next year. The Defense Minister said that Russia has "expanded the military’s combat capabilities by reinforcing its western and south-western army groups and building four bases in the Arctic region which has increased in strategic importance for Russia. He said that ninety-five percent of Russian nuclear forces are in a "permanent state of readiness."
In response to these aggressive actions on the part of Russia, NATO has "sharply" increased the presence of NATO troops in the Baltic states and the central part of Eastern Europe. The U.S. currently has about two hundred nuclear weapons located in Belgium, Italy, the Netherland, Germany, and Turkey as part of a NATO program of sharing nuclear weapons with non-nuclear NATO members. The U.S. has stated intentions to modernize these weapons.
The possibility of a global nuclear war is greater today than it has been in decades. It is imperative that tensions be reduced and efforts to eliminate all nuclear weapons be stepped up. The future of the human race depends on the success of these actions.
Russian Ministry of Defense emblem:
