Shortly before the start of the Munich Security Conference, its ex-head Wolfgang Ischinger, together with former high-ranking politicians, called on the nuclear powers to take steps to avoid a nuclear confrontation. According to a letter from Ischinger’s group to Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD), the ongoing military conflict in Ukraine dramatically increases the risks of using nuclear weapons.
Co-signatories include former British Defense Secretary Des Browne and former Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov. The letter and a corresponding appeal were published this Friday.
In view of the current situation, the signatories demanded that security measures to prevent the accidental or erroneous use of a nuclear weapon should be strengthened. All nuclear-weapon states would be called upon to review safety in their nuclear area. The five official nuclear weapon states USA, Russia, France, China and Great Britain could share the results with the signatories of the nuclear non-proliferation treaty, it said.
Restore dialogue between nuclear-weapon states
Every nuclear power has a responsibility to reduce the risk of nuclear failure, avoid nuclear threats and avoid confrontation between nuclear powers, the appeal said. Therefore, regardless of the current situation, dialogue on these issues between the nuclear-weapon states must be restored.
This also includes the bilateral strategic stability dialogue agreed by the United States and Russia in 2021 – including their commitment to lay the foundation for future arms control and risk reduction measures.
The first Munich security conference since the start of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine begins this Friday. Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba, among others, is expected in Munich from the Ukraine. A total of more than 40 heads of state and government and 90 ministers will be there, including Chancellor Scholz (SPD), US Vice President Kamala Harris, French President Emmanuel Macron and Polish President Andrzej Duda.
