Global Tensions are at a Peak
After a recent summit, China’s Xi Jinping and Russia’s Vladimir Putin issued a brief statement: “There can be no winners in a nuclear war, and it should never be fought.” This message, though universally accepted, seems hypocritical given their past threats of nuclear aggression against neighbouring countries.
The timing and brevity of this statement are notable, as global tensions are at a peak with conflicts in Ukraine and Gaza. Putin feels he is winning in Ukraine, while Xi believes China’s military dominance in the South China Sea makes a Taiwan takeover feasible. Both fear U.S. and NATO intervention, which could lead to nuclear threats.
Their warnings echo in a world where North Korea’s Kim Jong Un and Turkey’s Recep Tayyip Erdogan frequently make threats. Iran recently attacked Israel with a massive missile strike and claims to be near developing nuclear weapons, regularly threatening to destroy Israel.
Many dismiss these threats as mere bluster. However, the horrific violence seen on October 7 against Israeli civilians reminds us of humanity’s capacity for brutality. Modern weapons of mass destruction—nuclear, chemical, biological, and AI-driven—make these threats more dangerous.
Despite these risks, global reactions remain indifferent, assuming these leaders wouldn’t initiate catastrophic conflicts. Yet, there are as many autocratic nuclear powers as democratic ones. Only Israel has an effective missile defence system. As Western conventional power declines, reliance on nuclear deterrence grows, despite inadequate homeland defences.
We need to remain aware that the unthinkable can happen. We must take threats seriously and focus on strengthening defences, securing borders, ensuring military competence, controlling spending, and rebuilding our forces. Otherwise, we risk being unprepared for the catastrophic, believing we are immune until it’s too late.
