The renaissance of the nuclear deterrent
By Harry Lye
In an era of faltering nuclear treaties, the US has requested $29bn funding for upgrades to its nuclear arsenal, while the UK is charging ahead with its own deterrent and France is calling for stronger defences in Europe. Harry Lye takes a look inside the new nuclear renaissance.
Si vis pacem, para bellum, loosely translated from Latin, means ‘if you want peace, prepare for war’ – or, perhaps more appropriately, during the Cold War and increasingly in the present day: if you want peace, stockpile weapons for mutually assured destruction.
The old adage has its roots in Ancient Rome, where the most effective weapon was the Gladius – a short sword designed for stabbing. It has stood the test of time, through the Napoleonic era and into 2020, in a world where old Cold War adversaries the US and Russia turn their backs on international nuclear treaties, and leaders in Europe look to build their own deterrent.
https://www.airforce-technology.com/features/the-renaissance-of-the-nuclear-deterrent/
