Nuclear threat
The possession of nuclear weapons by any nation is a threat to the entire world. The destruction a war involving nuclear weapons could entail is catastrophic, not only in terms of immediate and massive loss of life but also in terms of the long-term effects on human health, the environment, climate, food production, and the economic underpinnings of life on earth.
There are a number of different strategies to prevent the use of nuclear weapons. One is known as “nuclear deterrence,” a strategy that relies on the threat of mutually assured destruction between nations. The development of large arsenals of nuclear-armed missiles is a key element of this strategy.
This strategy has been used throughout history by hegemons and by states that wish to preserve their preeminent positions in the global system. However, the use of nuclear weapons in a conflict is not only unethical but would be very difficult to control.
Another strategy to prevent the use of nuclear weapons is to deny access to nuclear materials through import and export restrictions, physical security at nuclear facilities, and the consolidation or elimination of stockpiles. This strategy is supported by the vast majority of States that are parties to the nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT) and was advocated by Bertrand Russell and Albert Einstein in the Russell-Einstein Manifesto issued in 1955.
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