The world is on the precipice of a " third atomic eld , ” according to the UK ’s capitulum of armed forces Admiral Sir Tony Radakin . He ’s not the first person to sound the alarm . In recent years , a figure ofthink tanksand researchers have claim a new atomic age is upon us . But what exactly is this newfangled “ age ” and what were the two previous stage that came before ?
The First Nuclear Age (1945 to 1991)
TheFirst Nuclear Agewas essentially the Cold War , characterized by theemergence of nuclear weaponsand the compete world power of the US and the Soviet Union .
These two superpowers , along with a handful of their ally , became hellbent on rapid nuclear development and stockpiling . Theworld ’s nuclear arsenalsgrew from around 3,000 weapon system in 1955 to over 60,000 in the late eighties ( around 23,000 in the US and 39,000 in the Soviet Union ) .
The order of the day was Mutually Assured Destruction ( MAD ) , the idea that a nuclear attack by one rural area would provoke an consuming counterstrike , extend to the total annihilation of both sides . This concept dissuade land from using nuclear weapons , thus maintaining a slight peace .
There were veryclose calls , though . One of the define moments of the First Nuclear Age was the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 , a 13 - day draw that began when the US unwrap Soviet atomic missiles in Cuba . A catastrophe was narrowly avoided thanks to a deal in which the USSR removed the weapons in rally for an American pledge not to invade Cuba and the withdrawal of US missiles from Turkey .
The Second Nuclear Age (1991 to 2020s)
The Soviet Union collapsed between 1989 and 1991 , in effect end the Cold War . A new era of peace , right ? Well , not precisely .
On one hand , the risk of exposure of nuclear war was dramatically reduced . The US and Russia reduce their nuclear arsenals through a serial publication of agreement , such as theStrategic Arms Reduction Treaties , and there had been a freeze on the testing , developing , and deployment of new nuclear warhead .
On the other mitt , new problem come out . Emerging office began testing nuclear weapons – such as India , Pakistan , and North Korea – and a new paradigm of atomic multipolarity begin . Instead of worrying about major power blow up the planet , the new concern was the nuclear capabilities of regional powers and “ rogue ” player , including terrorist groups .
tensity between India and Pakistan were peculiarly tense , raise the risk of conflict between two neighboring , nuclear - armed res publica . Meanwhile , North Korea begin atomic tests in 2006 , creating an unprecedented situation where a “ rogue state ” could fireatomic weaponsif they felt the pauperization to do so .
The Third Nuclear Age (2020s to ?)
Many argue that the world has entered a young era of atomic scheme , defined by Modern technologies – such asartificial intelligence(AI ) and hypersonic weapon system – and regenerate tensions among major nuclear - arm powers like the US , China , and Russia . Smaller nuclear Carry Amelia Moore Nation , such as Israel and North Korea , are also in the midst of vivid geopolitical tension , while land like Iran are still shoot for to become a nuclear world power .
Simultaneously , there ’s beena breakdownof some Cold War - epoch treaty that were designed to avoid atomic dispute and many nations havestarted bolsteringtheir nuclear arsenals once again .
“ We are at the dawning of a third nuclear eld , which is altogether more complex . It is defined by multiple and concurrent dilemma , proliferating atomic and disruptive technology and the almost full absence seizure of the security measure architectures that went before , ” Admiral Sir Tony Radakinreportedlysaid at an annual address at the Royal United Services Institute ( RUSI ) defence think tank in London this week .
“ From Russia , we have seen wild scourge of tactical nuclear consumption , bombastic - scale leaf nuclear exercises and simulate onset against Nato countries , all plan to coerce us from taking the activeness required to wield stability , ” he said .
“ China ’s atomic make - up poses a two - compeer challenge to the United States . Iran ’s loser to collaborate with the International Atomic Energy Agency is a concern , and North Korea ’s ballistic missile program and mercurial behavior present a regional and , increasingly , a spheric threat . ”
There is , of form , no say how the Third Nuclear Age will pan out , but we can hope the next age does n’t egress from a smolder crater .
