The recent announcement by United States of America to diversify its nuclear armoury with smaller bombs citing threat from countries like China, Russia, North Korea and Iran has deeply divided the international community. It has potential to create new division leading to polarization of world. Countries like Russia, China, Iran has reacted with anger and has termed US move as shocking. Infact China has alleged US of having cold war mentality and urged it to abandon such mentality.
The US reportedly took such step as it is concerned about its nuclear arsenal becoming obsolete and no longer an effective deterrent. The Pentagon document released on Friday, known as the Nuclear Posture Review (NPR), argues that developing smaller nuclear weapons would challenge that assumption. Low-yield weapons with strength of fewer than 20 kilotons are less powerful but are still devastating and can cause same impact like Hiroshima-Nagasaki bombing. The US announcement will further increase nuclear race in the world. Countries like China, Russia and North Korea will definitely take steps to match US and develop more dangerous nuclear weapon. Instead of creating deterrent, the move of US will only spark fresh nuclear armed race. World body like UN should intervene and stop developing of newer nuclear weapon.