ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses contemporary global security environment covering ground on renewed great power competition, resurgence of inter-state rivalries, increasing weapons asymmetries and states’ evolving military doctrines. The chapter argues that the shifting centres of powers, evolving global and regional alliances, and intensified inter-state conflicts have aggravated weapon asymmetries. As states’ reliance on nuclear weapons and other new technologies increases, their political will to pursue arms control and risks reduction mechanism through cooperation decreases thereby making a road to nuclear disarmament difficult. The chapter investigates why is the influence of nuclear weapons technologies on international security affairs so pervasive? Why has states’ reliance on nuclear weapons and new technologies increased while their effort towards disarmament decreased?
