LONDON — The leader of the United Kingdom’s military has issued a stark warning about the onset of what he describes as a “third nuclear age,” marked by a range of simultaneous global challenges and diminished security measures that previously helped manage nuclear threats.
Admiral Tony Radakin, the Chief of the Defense Staff, emphasized the importance for Britain to acknowledge the weight of the dangers it currently faces, regardless of the low likelihood of Russia initiating a direct nuclear strike against the U.K. or its allies in NATO.
Historically, during the Cold War, the nuclear standoff between two superpowers maintained a precarious peace through deterrence; in more recent times, global efforts to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons seemed effective. However, Radakin pointed out that today’s situation is far more intricate and precarious than either of those earlier eras, as he articulated in a speech given at the Royal United Services Institute.
He stated, “We are on the threshold of a third nuclear age…,” defining it as a period characterized by numerous, simultaneous dilemmas, growing nuclear capabilities, disruptive technologies, and a pronounced lack of cohesive security frameworks that existed in the past.
According to Radakin, current challenges facing Western nations include Russia’s threats of deploying tactical nuclear weapons in Ukraine, China’s escalating nuclear arsenal, Iran’s non-compliance with international nuclear agreements, and North Korea’s unpredictable actions. He highlighted these concerns as being compounded by a rise in cyber-attacks, acts of sabotage, and misinformation aimed at undermining stability in Western countries.
One of the most striking developments mentioned by Radakin is the alignment of North Korean soldiers with Russian forces near the Ukrainian border, which he described as an unprecedented occurrence of the year and indicated that such joint operations could increase.
The annual address by the head of Britain’s military serves as a significant tradition at RUSI, which is recognized as one of the nation’s leading think tanks for military and strategic studies.
In his lecture, Radakin advocated for ongoing reforms in the British armed forces to ensure that the nation is adequately prepared to tackle the evolving international threats. This includes upholding the U.K.’s nuclear deterrent, which he firmly believes is the most impactful element of the military’s arsenal in the eyes of Russia, significantly influencing President Putin’s calculations.
To maintain this deterrent capability, Britain ensures that at least one submarine equipped with nuclear missiles is always on patrol beneath the sea, ready to respond to a potential nuclear emergency.
At present, the U.K. government is in the process of conducting a strategic defense review, aimed at determining how its military should be structured and equipped to tackle these pressing new challenges, with outcomes expected to be released in the early part of next year.
