Global zero

The history of the modern movement for a nuclear-free world began on January 4, 2007, when the article “A World Without Nuclear Weapons” was published in the Wall Street Journal . Its authors — Cold War veterans — former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger , George Schulz , former US Secretary of Defense William Perry and Sam Nunn , former chairman of the Senate Armed Forces Committee, called on the international community to begin the process of complete elimination of nuclear weapons. The authors of the article proposed a “roadmap for moving towards a nuclear-free world” - intermediate versions of interstate agreements. In accordance with the roadmap, the elimination of nuclear weapons may be possible under the following conditions: ^[1] which contained specific proposals for moving towards a completely nuclear-free world (roadmap).

• if nuclear powers destroy nuclear weapons and radically reduce strategic nuclear arsenals;
• if all nuclear powers ratify the CTBT, signed in 1996;
• if an agreement is signed on the prohibition of the production of fissile materials FMCT;
• if the security of storage systems for nuclear weapons and fissile materials is enhanced, this primarily concerns weapons-grade plutonium and highly enriched uranium;
• if international control over the NFCF is established (...);
• if regional conflicts are resolved that encourage non-nuclear countries to seek nuclear weapons ^[2] .

The Action Plan of the Global Zero Movement provides a four-stage plan for reaching a global zero agreement (2010–2023) and the subsequent destruction of all nuclear weapons by 2030. ^[3]

1. The first phase (2010-2013) envisaged the continuation of US-Russian talks on reducing offensive weapons, the signing of strategic offensive arms, and the signing of a bilateral agreement between the Russian Federation and the US on reducing nuclear arsenals to 1,000 warheads.
2. Phase 2 (2014–2018) provided for a multilateral agreement, according to which the United States and the Russian Federation will reduce their nuclear arsenals to 500 warheads (by 2021), while other countries will stop building up their arsenals by 2018, and then proceed to their gradual destruction by 2021. At this stage, it was envisaged to introduce a system of control and guarantees that would suppress the illegal use of peaceful nuclear energy technologies in order to create nuclear weapons.
3. Phase 3 (2019–2033) called for negotiations on an agreement on the consistent destruction of all nuclear weapons, which should be signed by all countries with nuclear capabilities.
4. The 4th phase (2024–2030) envisaged the completion of the phased destruction of all nuclear arsenals by 2030 and the further improvement of the control system. ^[four]

The founding conference of the Global Zero Movement (Globalzero) was held in Paris in 2008. More than 100 politicians, civilian and military leaders took part in the conference and prepared an action plan for the destruction of nuclear weapons. Conference participants signed an open letter addressed to Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev urging them to begin to reduce nuclear potentials mutually.

On April 5, 2009, in his Prague speech, Barack Obama announced his commitment to the destruction of nuclear weapons.

Quote : “Therefore, today I clearly and with confidence proclaim America’s commitment to peace and security in a world without nuclear weapons. I am not naive. I understand that this goal will not be achieved quickly - perhaps this will not happen while I am alive. From us patience and perseverance will be required, but now we too must stop paying attention to the voices that tell us that the world cannot change. We must firmly say: “Yes, we can.” ^[5] -President Barack Obama, April 5 2009

The initiative of the American leader as a whole was supported by four nuclear powers - Russia, China, France and Great Britain and a number of non-nuclear countries.

The reaction of Russia

In March 2008, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov publicly supported the call for a nuclear-free world of veterans of US foreign and defense policy.

In September 2008, Prime Minister Vladimir Putin announced that the world could completely abandon nuclear weapons. In May 2009, Vladimir Putin agreed with the “null option”: “I think we should work on general and complete nuclear disarmament. We should all set such a goal. However, no one should abuse it using these terms and this area of ​​international philosophical thought for personal gain. If such a plan is ever implemented, then it will be done by all countries. One or two countries cannot afford unilateral disarmament, while others will continue to build up their nuclear arsenals. ”

In June 2009, Vladimir Putin again publicly supported the Global Zero initiative: “Why do we need atomic weapons? Have we ever invented it and ever used it? If those who made the atomic bomb and used it are ready to give it up today, as I hope, the other nuclear powers that officially or unofficially own it (this weapon. - Ed.), Of course, we will strongly welcome and contribute to this process. ”

On April 1, 2009, Dmitry Medvedev and Barack Obama signed the START Declaration, in which two countries proclaimed their intention to strive for a nuclear-free world. ^[6]

The concept of global zero has been severely criticized by a number of leading nuclear weapons experts.

Realist Kenneth Waltz argues that nuclear weapons and deterrence strategies increase states' chances of peaceful coexistence. According to Waltz, in the non-nuclear era, states unleashed wars, since the consequences of these wars were limited, while the threat of unlimited consequences of a nuclear war guarantees balanced behavior of nuclear powers. Nuclear weapons, according to Waltz, play a sobering role and are weapons of defense, but not attack, "nuclear weapons effectively guarantee the country's vital interests, but are of little use for establishing dominance over other states." ^[7]

Russian political scientist Sergey Karaganov also supports the positive role of nuclear deterrence in preventing wars - "nuclear weapons are a blessing that is designed to save humanity from itself." ^[eight]

The American political scientist A. Etzioni in his article “Zero is the wrong number” ^[9] offers a critical approach to the concept of “global zero”, indicating that discussions about the “zero option” distract the world community from solving pressing and more solvable problems in nuclear sphere - nuclear programs of Iran and North Korea, US-Russian cooperation in the field of security regime for tactical nuclear weapons and nuclear fuel, the threat of nuclear weapons falling into the hands of terrorists in the event of a coup in Pakistan.

Vladimir Dvorkin believes that "the task is utopian ... It is unlikely that one can count on the elimination of nuclear weapons by 2030 at a time when it is difficult to predict the prospects for the entry into force of the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty, the ban on the production of fissile materials for military use, and nuclear the crises of Iran and North Korea. " ^[ten]

Surveys conducted in 21 countries by the Global Zero Movement showed that 76% of the population of these countries support the prospect of signing an agreement on the destruction of nuclear weapons. ^[11] Members of the Global Zero Movement said it was necessary to provide greater informational coverage of the nuclear weapons issue, in particular for generations after the end of the Cold War.

The Global Zero Movement seeks to enlist the support of the world community, activists of the movement promote the dissemination of information, create an international student movement in support of the "global zero", conduct online registration of supporters of the destruction of nuclear weapons on the movement’s website ^[12] , and activists also hold actions (HollywoodStars' demandZero 'NuclearWeapons) ^[13] in order to attract public attention. One of the actions - BikearoundtheBomb ^[14] - was held on August 9, 2014 on the day of the 69th anniversary of the atomic bombing of Nagasaki. 400 supporters of the “global zero” in Washington, Berlin, London, Islamabad, New Delhi ^[14] - participants, on foot and on bicycles, traveled a symbolic circle resembling a funnel of a nuclear explosion. (BikearoundtheBomb) /.

The Movement’s activity is actively broadcast through the movement’s website [1] ^[15] , social networks - twitter (# demandzero, # Zeroby2030), Facebook [2] ^[16] , YouTube. [3] ^[17]

1. A. Fenenko. Paradoxes of "Global Zero" (neopr.) (Inaccessible link) . Russian Council on International Affairs (8.11.2012). Archived October 24, 2014.

2. Speech by Barack Obama in Prague on April 5, 2009 http://iipdigital.usembassy.gov/st/russian/article/2009/04/20090407134712eaifas0.3294794.html#axzz3Fwo9vRGW

3. Modern international relations: Textbook / ed. A.V. Torkunova, A.V. Malgina; MGIMO (University) of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. - M.: Aspect-Press, 2012. Chapter 16

4. Kenneth Waltz. Realism and↵International Politics. New York: Rooutledge, 2008. P. 261 Kenneth Waltz. Realism and International Politics. New York: Rooutledge, 2008. P. 261 http://www.geopolitica.ru/Articles/1151/

5. Sergey Karaganov. “Global Zero” and common sense // Russia in global politics. May-June 2010. No. 3

6. A. Etzioni "Zero is the wrong number" "Russia in global politics." No. 6, November - December 2009 http://globalaffairs.ru/number/n_14288