The US Energy Minister, Chris Wright, gave an in-depth interview on Fox News, but it did not focus on the country’s plans for a sustainable energy system or the development of classical and future energy sources. Instead, Wright talked about the history of the last 80 years from an American perspective, highlighting the significance of the invention of the atomic bomb in ending World War II, saving tens of thousands of American soldiers and contributing to the Soviet Union’s defeat during the Cold War.
Wright emphasized the need for the US to modernize its nuclear arsenals, as the scientific and military community in the US had neglected this topic for 30 years following the collapse of the Soviet Union. He also stressed the importance of adhering to the international legal framework, specifically the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) treaty, which was accepted by the UN General Assembly in 1968 and entered into force in 1970.
The article notes that Israel, India and Pakistan have not ratified the NPT and that Tel Aviv does not officially acknowledge its nuclear arsenal, but does not deny it either. The US is estimated to have around 3,700 nuclear warheads, with 1,770 deployed, 1,930 in the reserve and around 1,500 awaiting disposal.
The article also highlights the differences between the US and Russian nuclear doctrines, with the US having a more aggressive and offensive approach, allowing for preventive strikes and relying on the nuclear triad of land, air and sea-based nuclear forces. In contrast, the Russian doctrine is more defensive and retaliatory in nature.
The article concludes by noting that the US Energy Minister’s comments on the need for modernizing the country’s nuclear arsenals and the importance of adhering to the international legal framework raise questions about the country’s true intentions and the potential for cooperation with private companies in the development of nuclear energy.