The U.N.’s Delusional Declaration on Nuclear Weapons

Earlier this month, the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council — the United States, the U.K., France, China, and Russia — issued a joint statement entitled “Preventing Nuclear War and Avoiding Arms Races.” The countries begin by writing, “[We] consider the avoidance of war between Nuclear-Weapon States and the reduction of strategic risks as our foremost responsibilities,” and they go on to affirm that “a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought.” The optimistic tone continues, and by the end the signatories have committed to “continue seeking bilateral and multilateral diplomatic approaches to avoid military confrontations, strengthen stability and predictability, increase mutual understanding and confidence, and prevent an arms race that would benefit none and endanger all.”

This would be a historic moment for international unity — or rather, it would be if it were true. China and Russia may have signed this document, but they do not intend to honor it.

DF

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Deb Fischer

Deb Fischer is the senior U.S. senator from Nebraska and the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces.

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Earlier this month, the five permanent members of the U.N. Security Council — the United States, the U.K., France, China, and Russia — issued a joint statement entitled “Preventing Nuclear War and Avoiding Arms Races.” The countries begin by writing, “[We] consider the avoidance of war between Nuclear-Weapon States and the reduction of strategic risks as our foremost responsibilities,” and they go on to affirm that “a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought.” The optimistic tone continues, and by the end the signatories have committed to “continue seeking bilateral and multilateral diplomatic approaches to avoid military confrontations, strengthen stability and predictability, increase mutual understanding and confidence, and prevent an arms race that would benefit none and endanger all.”

This would be a historic moment for international unity — or rather, it would be if it were true. China and Russia may have signed this document, but they do not intend to honor it.