Should the West worry about Russia's growing nuclear capabilities and threats to use nukes?
We live in interesting times. In support of the most blatant aggression since World War II, we have heard since November 2021 Russian high level nuclear war threats every week or two. Indeed, the probability of Russian use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine is under active debate....
NATO’s June 2022 new strategic concept states, “The Russian Federation is modernizing its nuclear forces and expanding its novel and disruptive dual-capable delivery systems, while employing coercive nuclear signalling.”
I always worry about nukes. The big booms that keep on giving.
But should we get too worked up over Russian nuclear threats?
Keep in mind that Russia has a history of nuclear bluffs.
On top of lots of posturing about super weapons. FFS people, Russia needs Iranian-designed drones.
Winning.
Yet who can blame Russia for bluffing when their need for something to make up for their inadequate conventional forces trying to defend a huge border?
Russia's invasion of Ukraine has certainly exposed the flaws that should have been evident all along. And yet we are to believe that the problems exposed in Russia's conventional arsenal do not reflect Russia's nuclear arsenal?
Huh.
If Russia has a Potemkin nuclear arsenal, playing the calm statesman as Putin did early in the month does have some value in between rattling nuclear sabres:
There can be no winners in a nuclear war and such a war should never be started, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a statement released by the Kremlin on Monday.
Mind you, only some of Russia's nukes have to work to be a problem for America. And China has them. And others with higher nutball factors have or are trying to get them. Worry about nukes and work to have a good enough nuclear arsenal to deter others from using them.
But don't let Russia get away with murder because they beat their chest and fling nuclear poo.
NOTE: My most recent war coverage continues here.
