Ryabkov Warns: the Use of Nuclear Weapons to Become an Issue of Practicality
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov has warned of the potential for the use of nuclear weapons to become a “practical reality,” echoing concerns raised by Dr. Mohamed Walid Youssef, the head of ICGER. In an article published on November 20, 2024, titled “Putin Ushers in a New Nuclear Age,” Dr. Youssef cautioned against what he called the “normalization of nuclear weapons use in warfare.”
Speaking at the Valdai Discussion Club on December 18, 2024, Ryabkov stated that the risks posed by Western actions, particularly those led by the United States near Russia’s borders, could lead to a real and practical consideration of employing nuclear weapons.
“As a result of the increasingly reckless actions of the West, there are risks that could make the use of nuclear weapons a practical matter rather than mere speculation, in line with our declared doctrinal principles,” Ryabkov warned.[i]
He underscored the gravity of such a strategy, urging observers to evaluate its dangers based on their understanding of the potential consequences of a direct military confrontation between nuclear-armed states.
Dr. Youssef, in his article on Russia’s updated nuclear doctrine, highlighted the profound risks associated with what he described as the normalization of nuclear weapon use in conflicts. “One of the most alarming consequences of Russia’s revised nuclear doctrine,” he wrote, “is the normalization of employing nuclear weapons in wars.”
He added, “If every nuclear-armed state resorts to using its nuclear arsenal whenever it goes to war, this practice could become routine and naturalized, effectively crossing the nuclear threshold. This would render nuclear weapons akin to conventional arms in warfare.”
Ryabkov’s remarks and Dr. Youssef’s warnings come amid heightened global tensions, raising questions about the evolving role of nuclear weapons in international conflict and the implications for global security.
[i] arabic.rt.com, 19-12-2024. https://ar.rt.com/yxjr