We are on the threshold of the "third nuclear era"

His statement comes at a time when NATO is monitoring Russian threats with nuclear weapons, as well as the nuclear programs of North Korea and Iran, with great concern.

Speaking at a gathering of the Royal Defense Studies Institute (RUSI), Radakin pointed out that the global balance of power is changing dramatically.

"The beginning of the third nuclear era is upon us," he said, adding that the situation is now more complex than ever before.

Nuclear threats erupted from all sides

Since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine nearly three years ago, relations between Moscow and NATO are at their lowest level since the end of the Cold War. During the war, marked by brutal clashes in eastern Ukraine, the Kremlin often resorted to nuclear threats.

Russian President Vladimir Putin put nuclear forces on high alert as early as the 2022 invasion, and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov warned a few months later that the risk of a nuclear conflict was "significant."

Putin declared this year that Russia is militarily ready for nuclear war.

"We have seen numerous threats with tactical nuclear weapons, large-scale military exercises and simulated attacks on NATO countries - all aimed at intimidating and deterring actions needed to preserve stability," Radakin said.

In late October, Russia conducted large-scale military exercises that included a simulation of a nuclear counterattack.

The first, the second... We are on the threshold of the "third nuclear era"

Radakin recalled that the "first nuclear era" was marked by the arms race during the Cold War, when the USA and the Soviet Union accumulated huge stockpiles of nuclear weapons.

After the Cold War, the "second nuclear era" focused on disarmament and non-proliferation.

However, now, Radakin claims, we are facing the "third nuclear era", which is far more complex.

"This time is marked by the spread of nuclear technologies, numerous simultaneous threats and the almost complete absence of security mechanisms that existed in the past," the admiral pointed out.

Russia and the US own 90% of the world's nuclear weapons NATO, which includes nuclear powers the United States, the United Kingdom and France, and countries that have US nuclear weapons, continues to strengthen its defense capabilities.

Russia, with the largest nuclear arsenal in the world, together with the USA, owns about 90% of the world's nuclear weapons.

NATO does not want to fall for Russian arms rattling

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said the alliance takes Moscow's nuclear threats seriously, but does not want to "fall for Russian arms-rattling."

"Our deterrence strategy is strong and we are ready to defend against any threat," Rutte said at a conference in Brussels.

In addition to Russia, NATO is also monitoring China's growing nuclear capabilities, while Russia is believed to be providing technical support to North Korea in developing its nuclear and ballistic missiles.

Despite frequent threats from the Russian side, Radakin estimated that the possibility of a direct Russian attack on Great Britain or other NATO members is small.
 

Moscow knows that NATO's response would be huge

"Moscow knows that NATO's response, be it conventional or nuclear, would be enormous," the admiral concluded.

"Deterrence works, but it must remain strong and adapted to the growing threats from Russia and beyond," stressed Radakin.

At the moment, he says, NATO's ability to deter and defend remains a key pillar of security in an increasingly volatile global environment.