Connect with us


News

U.S, Russia, China, Britain, and France say no one can win nuclear war

U.S, Russia, China, Britain, and France say no one can win nuclear war

Published

on

(Reuters) -China, Russia, Britain, the United States and France have agreed that a further spread of nuclear arms and a nuclear war should be avoided, according to a joint statement by the five nuclear powers published by the Kremlin on Monday.

It said that the five countries – which are the permanent members of the United Nations Security Council – consider it their primary responsibility to avoid war between the nuclear states and to reduce strategic risks, while aiming to work with all countries to create an atmosphere of security.

Advertisement

“We affirm that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought,” the English-language version of the statement read.

“As nuclear use would have far-reaching consequences, we also affirm that nuclear weapons — for as long as they continue to exist — should serve defensive purposes, deter aggression, and prevent war.”

Advertisement
READ ALSO:   Court Orders IGP Egbetokun To Arrest EFCC Chairman, Olukoyede

France also released the statement, underscoring that the five powers reiterated their determination for nuclear arms control and disarmament. They would continue bilateral and multilateral approaches to nuclear arms control, it said.

The statement from the so-called P5 group comes as bilateral relations between the United States and Moscow have fallen to their lowest since the end of the Cold War, while relations between Washington and China are also at a low over a range of disagreements.

Advertisement

The Pentagon in November sharply increased https://www.reuters.com/world/pentagon-sharply-raises-its-estimate-chinese-nuclear-warheads-2021-11-03 its estimate of China’s projected nuclear weapons arsenal over the coming years, saying Beijing could have 700 warheads by 2027 and possibly 1,000 by 2030.

READ ALSO:   NCDC reveals Nigerians responsible for increased COVID-19 cases in the country

Washington has repeatedly urged China to join it and Russia in a new arms control treaty.

Advertisement

Geopolitical tensions between Moscow and Western countries have increased over concerns about Russia’s military buildup near neighbouring Ukraine. Moscow says it can move its army around its own territory as it deems necessary.

Last Thursday U.S. President Joe Biden told https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/biden-speak-with-ukraine-president-sunday-white-house-2021-12-31 his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin that a possible move on Ukraine will draw sanctions and an increased U.S. presence in Europe, where tensions are high after Russia’s military buildup at the border.

Advertisement

U.S. and Russian officials will hold security talks https://www.reuters.com/world/us-russian-officials-set-security-talks-jan-10-us-official-2021-12-28 on Jan. 10 to discuss concerns about their respective military activity and confront rising tensions over Ukraine, the two countries said.

READ ALSO:   Breaking: APC Governors To React To National Convention Postponement Until Buhari...

A conference on a major nuclear treaty that was set to begin on Tuesday at the United Nations has been postponed until August due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Advertisement

(Reporting by Andrey Ostroukh in Moscow and Daphne Psaledakis and Jonathan Landay in Washington

Advertisement
Advertisement







Also Read...