Over a decade since President Obama’s Prague Speech, World Enters ‘Third Nuclear Age’
More than fifteen years have passed since then-President Barack Obama delivered his groundbreaking speech in Prague, pledging the United States would take “concrete steps towards a world without nuclear weapons.” Despite its bold rhetoric, which later contributed to him being awarded the Nobel Peace Prize, Obama’s vision was cautious. He outlined no specific steps and acknowledged it might not occur during his lifetime.
The speech resonated with the spirit of the time when even ardent Cold War hawks argued that nuclear weapons were obsolete. The world was more concerned about terrorists acquiring loose nukes than a state deliberately using one. The administration was also negotiating New START, a treaty for significant reductions in U.S. and Russian nuclear arsenals.
However, looking back, Obama’s speech seems less like the start of a new era and more like an epitaph for a fleeting period of hope that was rapidly fading. Last month, Admiral Tony Radakin, the chief of the United Kingdom’s armed forces, declared that the world has entered a “third nuclear age.” The first age being the Cold War.
This new nuclear age is characterized by increased tensions between global powers and technological advancements in weapons systems. Nations are modernizing their nuclear arsenals, and there’s growing concern about the potential for nuclear conflict. This shift has led to renewed discussions about the role of nuclear weapons in international security strategy.
Experts argue that while the risk of a full-scale nuclear war remains low, the danger of miscalculation, accident, or escalation is higher than ever before. The recent history of nuclear disarmament efforts suggests a long and challenging road ahead for those advocating a world without nuclear weapons.