The very real threat of a nuclear war

BABE'S EYE VIEW FROM WASHINGTON, D.C.

- AMBASSADOR B. ROMUALDEZ

The escalating war in Ukraine is already sending chills down the spine of many people, most especially those in Europe.

Shortly after US President Biden gave the greenlight for the use of US-made long-range missiles, Ukraine fired eight ATACMS (Army Tactical Missile System) missiles that hit a Russian weapon arsenal in Bryansk Oblast on Tuesday.

In response to the ATACMS firing, President Vladimir Putin approved changes to Russia's nuclear doctrine that says an attack from a non-nuclear state with the backing or support by a nuclear country would be considered a joint attack - giving Russia the right to use nuclear weapons as a response.

Clearly, the war seems to be "escalating quickly and unpredictably" as New York Times' German Lopez described it, with Ukraine also firing the UK-provided, longer-range Storm Shadow missiles at targets inside Russia for the first time. According to the BBC, the Storm Shadow is an "Anglo-French cruise missile" with a high-explosive warhead and is called "Scalp" by the French.

The Biden administration's decision allowing Ukraine to use the ATACMS is perceived to be in response to North Korea's sending of thousands of soldiers to Russia. Reports say over 100,000 North Koreans may be deployed as the relationship between Moscow and Pyongyang deepens. North Korean President Kim Jong Un reportedly told troops to "go all out" - not surprising since Russia is reportedly paying each soldier $2,000 a month.