세계일보

The axis of authoritarian states (Russia, China, Iran and North Korea) is determined to change the world order.

Russia has been on a roll: the 2008 invasion of Georgia, the seizure of Crimea in 2014 and the February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Ukraine surprised an overconfident Vladimir Putin, yet the war continues, with Russian casualties exceeding 500,000.

From the time Russia invaded Ukraine, Mr. Putin has threatened to use tactical nuclear weapons. He recently announced a new nuclear doctrine: Aggression against Russia by any non-nuclear state, but with the participation or support of a nuclear one, should be considered a joint attack.

Moreover, he said Russia would be prepared to use nuclear weapons “upon receipt of reliable information of a massive launch of air and space attack weapons and their crossing of the state border.”

Russia has about 5,580 nuclear weapons, with 1,710 deployed; the U.S. has about 5,044 nuclear weapons, with about 1,770 deployed. Russia and the U.S. adhere to the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, which limits the number of deployed nuclear weapons.

Last year, Mr. Putin announced that Russia was suspending its participation with the U.S. in the New START treaty, the only treaty that limited both countries’ nuclear weapons.

China is focusing on an ambitious nuclear expansion program. It has about 500 nuclear weapons and is expected to have about 1,000 nuclear weapons by 2030 and 1,500 by 2035.

China’s Rocket Force, established by President Xi Jinping, receives significant resources for the nuclear modernization program. China is not a member of New START and continues to refuse to discuss its nuclear program with the U.S.

[ⓒ 세계일보 & Segye.com, 무단전재 및 재배포 금지]