How many countries have nuclear weapons and how many are there? How destructive are today’s nuclear weapons? What about “nuclear deterrence” theory? Do nuclear weapons help keep the peace? What is the New START Agreement and why has Russia suspended its implementation? What is the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons? Why does this treaty matter if none of the countries with nuclear weapons have joined? Why should one country give up its nuclear weapons if other countries still have them? Why should countries that don’t have nuclear weapons care about this treaty? Can a NATO state join the TPNW? Did Ukraine give up nuclear weapons? What are "tactical" nuclear weapons? What are 'dirty bombs'?

Do nuclear weapons help to keep the peace?

Answer

Nuclear weapons proponents have often argued that the existence of nuclear weapons have prevented World War III. But these theories have never been able to prove a causation between the existence of nuclear weapons and the lack of a direct war between nations. In fact, the existence of nuclear weapons have done nothing to prevent the many terrible conflicts in the world since 1945, including most recently, the devastating civil war in Syria. What’s more, nuclear weapons are strategically useless to address the actual security threats facing nations in the 21st century, including climate change, terrorism and cyber-attacks.