Topic Of The Day:-“Hawkish Move: On U.S. Pullout From Nuclear Treaty”
The U.S.’S Unilateral Withdrawal From A Nuclear Treaty Threatens To Kick-Start A New Arms Race
The Donald Trump administration’s decision to withdraw from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty with Russia is a retrograde step. Signed in 1987 by Ronald Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev, it barred both countries from deploying land-launched cruise missiles in the 500- to 5,500-km range. However, Russia appears to have been covertly violating it in letter and spirit. The U.S. in 2008 expressed concern over the Russian Novator 9M729 missile tests and in 2014 alleged that Moscow was testing a ground-based cruise missile. Yet, the U.S. response cannot be regarded as purely retaliatory. Both Mr. Trump and his National Security Adviser John Bolton are on the record expressing what some consider to be a sense of disregard for arms control agreements. Before taking up the NSA role, Mr. Bolton said in his book that the U.S. “arms control theology” had been “kept on life support during the Clinton presidency by devotion and prayer rather than hard reality”. Mr. Trump, who scuppered the nuclear agreement with Iran, has hinted he would refuse to abide by a treaty that other parties were disregarding. There is now a sense of alarm that the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), which limits both countries’ arsenal of intercontinental ballistic missiles, and will lapse in 2021, might be scrapped next.At the heart of this worrisome echo of the Cold War years is the changing balance of power in global nuclear politics heralded by China’s rise as a regional hegemon; its growing arsenal posesa threat in the eyes of strategists in Washington. In 2018, the U.S. Nuclear Posture Review noted that Beijing was steaming forward with the expansion of its cruise-missile arsenal, potentially neutralising the capability of American warships that could seek to approach the Chinese coastline during a standoff. Shifting geo-politics also requires that European concerns be factored intostrategic discussions on the INF, particularly because it is Europe that is most immediately threatened by the Russian stockpile. However, going by the surprised reactions from European officials, it appears that Mr. Trump may not have consulted with European allies before announcing the suspension of the treaty. Mr. Trump’s thinking may rest on the fact that he could now develop ground-launched missiles, and perhaps keep Moscow’s aggression in check through a military-posture superiority, and also save the exchequer some cash, for this option is cheaper than cruise missiles that can be fired from aircraft, ships, or submarines. Nevertheless, in pulling out of the INF, Washington is effectively throwing away leverage it may have had with Russia on an issue of global concern.
MEANINGS AND WORDS
1) retrograde
Meaning : directed or moving backwards(adj).
Synonyms : declining
Antonyms : positive
Example : “a retrograde flow”
2) barred
Meaning : closed or secured with a long rigid piece of wood, metal, or similar material.
Synonyms : barricade
Antonyms : release
Example : “he sits by a barred window”
3) deploying
Meaning : move (troops or equipment) into position for military action.
Synonyms : open
Antonyms : finish
Example : “forces were deployed at strategic locations”
4) cruise
Meaning : sail about in an area without a precise destination, especially for pleasure.
Synonyms : jaunt
Example : “they were cruising off the California coast”
5) covertly
Meaning : without being openly acknowledged or displayed; secretly(adv).
Synonyms : secretly
Antonyms : candidly
Example : “a transcript of a covertly taped meeting”
6) concern
Meaning : relate to; be about.
Synonyms : interest
Antonyms : pastime
Example : “the story concerns a friend of mine”
7) retaliatory
Meaning : (of an action) characterized by a desire for revenge.
Synonyms : penal
Antonyms : beneficial
Example : “fears of a retaliatory attack by the victim’s friends”
8) devotion
Meaning : religious worship or observance.
Synonyms : affection
Antonyms : coolness
Example : “the order’s aim was to live a life of devotion”
9) scuppered
Meaning : sink (a ship or its crew) deliberately.
Synonyms : consume
Antonyms : fast
Example : “the ship was scuppered and seriously damaged”
10) abide
Meaning : accept or act in accordance with (a rule, decision, or recommendation).
Synonyms : accept
Antonyms : disallow
Example : “I said I would abide by their decision”
11) arsenal
Meaning : a collection of weapons and military equipment.
Synonyms : depot
Antonyms : debt
Example : “Britain’s nuclear arsenal”
12) lapse
Meaning : a brief or temporary failure of concentration, memory, or judgement.
Synonyms : fault
Antonyms : accuracy
Example : “a lapse of concentration in the second set cost her the match”
13) heralded
Meaning : be a sign that (something) is about to happen.
Synonyms : announce
Antonyms : conceal
Example : “the speech heralded a change in policy”
14) poses
Meaning : present or constitute (a problem or danger).
Synonyms : posture
Antonyms : reality
Example : “the sheer number of visitors is posing a threat to the area”
15) Posture
Meaning : the position in which someone holds their body when standing or sitting.
Synonyms : attitude
Example : “I got out of the car in an alert posture”
16) strategic
Meaning : the position in which someone holds their body when standing or sitting.
Synonyms : aspect
Antonyms : absence
Example : “I got out of the car in an alert posture”
17) aggression
Meaning : feelings of anger or antipathy resulting in hostile or violent behaviour; readiness to attack or confront.
Synonyms : assault
Example : “his chin was jutting with aggression”
18) Nevertheless
Meaning : in spite of that; notwithstanding; all the same.
Synonyms : though
Antonyms : furthermore
Example : “statements which, although literally true, are nevertheless misleading”
19) leverage
Meaning : the exertion of force by means of a lever.
Synonyms : weight
Antonyms : weakness
Example : “my spade hit something solid that wouldn’t respond to leverage”
