Moscow ‘unlikely’ to use nuclear weapons, but China and Russia raise concerns

“It is highly unlikely” that Russia will resort to using nuclear weapons. “This is our current assessment,” said Avril Haines, director of the US Intelligence Community, during a hearing in the US Senate Armed Services Committee, according to Reuters.

Avril Haines did not provide details about US intelligence agencies’ assessments of the Moscow Administration’s intentions. President Vladimir Putin announced in February the suspension of Russia’s participation in the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (New START), signed with the United States. Washington has repeatedly announced that it is monitoring Moscow’s activities, although no indications of an intention to use nuclear weapons have been observed, despite Russian officials’ threats to use all capabilities to defend national integrity.

Scott Berrier, director of the US Military Intelligence Agency (DIA), said during the Senate hearing that the United States is concerned about China and Russia’s attempts to challenge the international order. “China and Russia are trying to challenge the rules-based international order,” said Scott Berrier, according to the DPA agency.

Scott Berrier denounced China’s “unilateral military activities” in the Indo-Pacific area, North Korean ballistic tests and “Iranian activities against American capabilities in the Middle East.”

“Authoritarian regimes generate risks. I am very concerned about the threats generated by China, Russia, North Korea and Iran, as well as by violent extremist organizations”, stressed Scott Berrier.