Austin warns of nuclear weapons as a “hunting license” for autocrats

Austin made the remarks at the annual Halifax International Security Forum, which attracts defense and security officials from western democracies.

“Russia’s invasion offers a preview of a possible world of tyranny and turmoil none of us want to live in. And it’s an invitation to an increasingly insecure world plagued by the shadow of nuclear proliferation,” Austin said in a speech.

“Because Putin’s fellow autocrats are watching. And they might well decide that acquiring nuclear weapons would give them a hunting license of their own. And that could start a dangerous spiral of nuclear proliferation.”

Austin dismissed Putin’s claims that “modern Ukraine was created entirely by Russia,” calling it a vision of “a world where autocrats decide which countries are real and which countries can be wiped out.”

He added that war “shows the whole world the dangers of disorder. This is the security challenge we face. It’s urgent and historic.

But we will meet him. … The basic principles of democracy are under siege worldwide,” he said.

Danger of a nuclear “Armageddon”

US President Joe Biden last month said the risk of a nuclear “Armageddon” was at its highest since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis; Russian officials have upped the use of tactical nuclear weapons after massive setbacks in the nearly nine-month invasion of Ukraine.

While US officials have for months warned of the prospect of Russia using weapons of mass destruction in Ukraine amid battlefield setbacks, Biden administration officials have repeatedly said that US intelligence assessments have not changed, suggesting suggests that Putin has imminent plans to use nuclear weapons.

CIA director Bill Burns recently met with his Russian intelligence colleague to warn of the consequences if Russia were to deploy a nuclear weapon in Ukraine.

Austin said nuclear weapons must be responsibly controlled and not used to threaten the world.

“Ukraine faces a tough winter. And as Russia’s position on the battlefield erodes, Putin may once again resort to deeply irresponsible nuclear saber-rattling,” he said

Austin also compared Russia to China, saying Beijing is trying to reshape both the region and the international system to fit its authoritarian preferences. He pointed to China’s increasing military activity across the Taiwan Strait.

“Beijing, like Moscow, aspires to a world where might makes right, disputes are resolved by violence and autocrats can snuff out the flame of freedom,” he said.

“The Course of Global Security”

Calling Putin’s invasion the worst security crisis since the end of World War II, Austin said the outcome “will help set the course of global security in this young century,” Austin said.

Austin said the deadly missile blast in Poland this week was a result of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “war of choice” against Ukraine. “The tragic and disturbing explosion in Poland this week reminded the entire world of the ruthlessness of Putin’s campaign,” Austin said.

Two workers were killed on Tuesday when a projectile hit a grain drying plant near the Polish-Ukrainian border. While the source of the missile is being investigated, NATO officials have said they suspect it was launched from a Ukrainian missile battery.

Officials from Poland, NATO and the United States have blamed Russia for the deaths anyway, saying a Ukrainian missile would not have failed had the country not been forced to defend itself against heavy Russian attacks that day.

Russian officials have portrayed the conflict as a fight against NATO – although Ukraine is not a NATO member, even if it has received aid from NATO member states.

Austin said NATO is a defensive alliance and poses no threat to Russia.

“Make no mistake: we will not be dragged into Putin’s election campaign. But we will stand by Ukraine as it struggles to defend itself. And we will defend every inch of NATO territory,” Austin said.

A Polish investigation to determine the source of the rocket and the circumstances surrounding the blast was launched with US support, and Ukrainian investigators joined the probe on Friday.

Andriy Yermak, head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, said in an interview broadcast live at the forum: “It is not correct to say that it is a Ukrainian or a Russian missile before the investigation is complete.”

In its 14th year, about 300 people gather each year for the Halifax International Security Forum, held at Halifax’s Westin Hotel, where about 13 Ukrainian refugees now work.

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