Report reveals 13 ‘disturbing’ nuclear near-misses

Press release issued: 6 May 2014 There have been at least 13 potentially catastrophic cases of near-use of nuclear weapons worldwide since 1962, according to a new report which warns that the risk of nuclear weapons being detonated is higher than previously thought. A report by Chatham House , home of the Royal Institute of International Affairs, found that the risks associated with nuclear weapons were not only a Cold War phenomena, but still exist today. Dr Benoit Pelopidas , from the Global Insecurities Centre at the University of Bristol, co-authored the report which was presented at the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) Preparatory Committee at the United Nations headquarters in New York. Although nuclear weapons have not been detonated in violent conflict since 1945, the report found that there have been 'disturbing near misses in which nuclear weapons were nearly used inadvertently' owing to miscalculation, error or sloppy practices. In several cases the large-scale launch of nuclear weapons was nearly triggered by technical malfunctions or breakdowns in communication causing false alarms, in the US, Russia but also in most other nuclear armed-states. Disaster was averted only by cool-headed individuals gambling that the alert was caused by a glitch and not an actual attack or not willing to take the responsibility to use those weapons. Historical cases of near nuclear use resulting from misunderstanding demonstrate the importance of human judgment in nuclear decision-making.