Speaking to the British newspaper The Telegraph, IAEA Director Rafael Grossi warned of the danger of a new nuclear arms race. The rising conflict and instability in the world, he said, could lead to a “crack in the system” of non-proliferation and a domino effect in which as many as 20 states pursue a bomb. He pointed to the growing discussion in Poland, South Korea, and Japan about the possibility of obtaining nuclear weapons as an example of the disconcerting situation.
He also expressed concern that countries which have signed on to the NPT were considering breaching that pact. “There’s been a few important countries ... in Europe, in Asia Minor, in the Far East that have mentioned [it] and where a public discussion is taking place about this possibility.”
He said that his greatest fear was a nuclear arms race. “At some point, we are going to see a crack in the system. And then we’ll have a domino [effect]. It is a very, very fragile position.”
