Who can use nuclear weapons? What stops them from using one?

Things are not turning out to be the way Vladimir Putin would have planned when the Russian armed forces invaded Ukraine last year. So, now he is threatening Ukraine by saying that Russia plans to station tactical nuclear weapons in neighbouring Belarus.

Ukraine's government on Sunday (March 26) called for an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council to "counter the Kremlin's nuclear blackmail" and the North Atlantic Treaty Organisation (NATO) criticised Russia for its "dangerous and irresponsible" nuclear rhetoric.

Some Russian commentators have been speculating about possible nuclear strikes but this could just be a threat from Moscow so that Ukraine, with the help of the West, does not try to retake Crimea.

But what if it's not just a threat? Will Russia really think about using nuclear weapons? How does a country use nuclear weapons, and what are the rules and the treaties to stop them?

Countries with nuclear weapons

There are nine countries that are known or believed to have nuclear weapons. Russia, the United States, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, and Israel (has not officially confirmed or denied the possession of nuclear weapons) and North Korea possess an estimated total of roughly 13,000 nuclear weapons.

Of these nuclear warheads, 9,400 are in active military stockpiles, which has declined significantly from the approximately 70,000 warheads during the Cold War.

Russia has the highest number of nuclear weapons, with 5,997 nuclear warheads, followed by the US with 5,428 nuclear weapons.

How does a country use nuclear weapons?

Nuclear weapons are considered the last resort and ideally, if a country were to decide to use nuclear weapons, it would likely be in response to an existential threat to its national security. Many countries have adopted a policy of "no first use" of nuclear weapons, which means they would only use them in response to a nuclear attack.

If a country were to use nuclear weapons, it would involve extensive military planning and coordination.

 

The process of a country using nuclear weapons?

The decision to use nuclear weapons is complex and involves factors, including political, military, legal, and ethical considerations. The specific process to use nuclear weapons may vary but these are some general steps that may be involved:

Authorization: The decision to use nuclear weapons would typically require authorization from the country's top political and military leaders, such as the president, prime minister, or defense minister. Depending on the country, this authorization may be subject to approval by other bodies, such as the parliament or a national security council.

Target selection: Once the decision to use nuclear weapons is made, the country's military would need to select the targets for the weapons. This would involve analyzing various factors, such as the military and strategic importance of the targets, potential collateral damage, and the likelihood of success.

 

Launch preparation: The country's military would then prepare the nuclear weapons for launch, including arming and fueling the missiles or bombers that would deliver the weapons. This process would likely involve many technical and logistical challenges, given the complexity and destructive power of nuclear weapons.

Launch authorization: Before launching nuclear weapons, the military would need to receive authorization from the country's political leaders. This would typically involve a secure communication channel between the military and political leadership.

Launch and detonation: Once the launch authorization is given, the military would launch the nuclear weapons toward their targets. The weapons would then detonate upon impact, causing massive destruction and loss of life.

How does a country like Russia use nuclear weapons?

Russia's nuclear doctrine states that it would use nuclear weapons only in response to a nuclear attack or a conventional attack that threatens the existence of the country.

Russia's nuclear forces are organised into three branches: strategic, operational-tactical, and air defense. The strategic nuclear forces are the most powerful and are designed to deter nuclear attacks against Russia. The operational-tactical forces are designed to counter conventional military threats and would be used in a limited and localized conflict. The air defense forces are responsible for protecting Russian airspace from enemy aircraft.

A significant portion of Russia's nuclear arsenal is deployed on intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs), and strategic bombers. Russia's nuclear forces are under the command of the President of Russia, who has the authority to authorize the use of nuclear weapons.

Treaties to prevent a nuclear war

Many treaties have been signed among the nuclear-armed nation and there are rules aimed at reducing the risk of a nuclear war. But the risk of a nuclear attack cannot be entirely eliminated because most of these countries are very powerful and they have maintained their nuclear arsenals as a deterrent against their adversaries.

Some of the most important treaties signed to reduce the risk of a nuclear war are:

Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT): This treaty, signed in 1968, aims to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and technology to countries that do not have them. The NPT has 190 member states and has helped to reduce the number of countries that possess nuclear weapons.

Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT): This treaty prohibits nuclear explosions in all environments, whether underground, underwater, or in the atmosphere. The treaty has been signed by 184 countries, but it has not yet entered into force because it has not been ratified by all of the required countries.

Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START): This treaty, signed by the United States and Russia in 1991 and subsequently updated, aims to reduce the number of deployed nuclear weapons and delivery vehicles. The treaty has helped to reduce the risk of nuclear war by reducing the number of nuclear weapons held by these two countries.

No First Use (NFU) policy: Some countries, including China and India, have adopted a policy of "no first use" of nuclear weapons, which means they would only use nuclear weapons in response to a nuclear attack. This policy is intended to reduce the likelihood of a nuclear exchange and promote disarmament.

Laws and other deterrents against the use of nuclear weapons

The use of nuclear weapons is one of the most serious crimes under international law, and any use of nuclear weapons would have devastating consequences.

The use of nuclear weapons is governed by international law, including the Geneva Conventions, the Hague Conventions, and the United Nations Charter. The use of nuclear weapons is subject to several rules, including:

Principle of distinction: This principle requires that parties to a conflict distinguish between civilians and combatants and only target military objectives. The use of nuclear weapons that would result in excessive civilian casualties would violate this principle.

Principle of proportionality: This principle requires that the military advantage gained by using nuclear weapons must be proportional to the harm caused to civilians and civilian objects.

Principle of necessity: This principle requires that the use of nuclear weapons must be necessary to achieve a legitimate military objective and must not be used as a means of revenge or punishment.

Customary international law: Customary international law prohibits the use of weapons that are likely to cause unnecessary suffering, which would include the use of nuclear weapons.

International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA): The IAEA is an international organization that promotes the peaceful use of nuclear energy and works to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons. The IAEA conducts inspections and safeguards to ensure that countries are not using their nuclear programs for military purposes.

But, what about North Korea?

The isolated nation first began developing its nuclear capabilities in the 1980s, and has since conducted multiple nuclear tests and launched numerous ballistic missiles. North Korea has conducted a total of six nuclear tests, the first of which took place in October 2006.

The North Korean government has stated that its nuclear program is intended for self-defence, and that it is necessary to deter potential aggression from the United States and its allies. However, the international community has expressed concerns that North Korea's nuclear program could be used to launch a preemptive strike, or that it could sell nuclear technology to other countries or terrorist organisations.

In the last one year, North Korea has launched more than 70 missiles, the most ever. The missile launches have increased since the South Korean and US militaries started conducting larger and more frequent drills, which North Korea sees as preparation for an invasion.

North Korea has claimed to have missiles capable of striking both the US mainland and South Korea with nuclear weapons.