Understanding the Threat of Nuclear, Biological and Chemical Warfare

Abstract

Weapons of mass destruction are not merely Cold War relics. Recent years have seen the use of biological and chemical agents in the United States, Syria, Malaysia and the United Kingdom. The faltering of strategic arms control between Russia and the United States may point to a second era of nuclear arms racing. An emboldened China and the consolidation of North Korea as a nuclear weapons state only complicate the picture. With the decline of the liberal world order and rise of authoritarianism, the bulwarks of international law preventing the proliferation and use of biological, chemical and nuclear weapons are under pressure. Technological advancements may breed novel ways for state and non-state actors to acquire and utilise the world’s most dreaded weapons. When preparing for these developments, we need an updated and science-based understanding of the risks. This is vital to adopt the most cost-effective preventive and responsive measures.