Moves By Russia And Saudi Arabia Heighten Global Nuclear Anxiety

By Steve Bynum, Jerome McDonnell
Journalists watch as Russian President Vladimir Putin gives his annual state of the nation address in Manezh in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, March 1, 2018. Putin set a slew of ambitious economic goals, vowing to boost living standards, improve health care and education and build modern infrastructure in a state-of-the-nation address.
Journalists watch as Russian President Vladimir Putin gives his annual state of the nation address in Manezh in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, March 1, 2018. Putin set a slew of ambitious economic goals, vowing to boost living standards, improve health care and education and build modern infrastructure in a state-of-the-nation address. AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko
Journalists watch as Russian President Vladimir Putin gives his annual state of the nation address in Manezh in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, March 1, 2018. Putin set a slew of ambitious economic goals, vowing to boost living standards, improve health care and education and build modern infrastructure in a state-of-the-nation address.
Journalists watch as Russian President Vladimir Putin gives his annual state of the nation address in Manezh in Moscow, Russia, Thursday, March 1, 2018. Putin set a slew of ambitious economic goals, vowing to boost living standards, improve health care and education and build modern infrastructure in a state-of-the-nation address. AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko

Moves By Russia And Saudi Arabia Heighten Global Nuclear Anxiety

By Steve Bynum, Jerome McDonnell
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Saudi Arabia and Russia are increasing global anxiety over nuclear proliferation. Russia’s President Vladimir Putin announced in a policy speech today that his country now possesses an “invincible” nuclear arsenal that can “reach anywhere in the world.” Putin used video presentations to demonstrate how the missiles could also bypass U.S. nuclear shields in Asia and Europe. U.S. Energy Secretary Rick Perry cancelled a scheduled trip to India to meet with Saudi officials in London. Reportedly, the U.S. are in talks to build 16 nuclear power reactors in Saudi Arabia. The Trump administration might also waive restrictions to allow Saudi Arabia to reprocess and enrich uranium. We’ll talk about the implications of the Russian and Saudi nuclear moves with Joseph Cirincione, president of the Ploughshares Fund, a non-proliferation NGO.