Physicist Carlo Rovelli argues against NATO rearmament in new book
8 reported
Italian theoretical physicist Carlo Rovelli, author of the new book "85 Seconds to Midnight," argues that European NATO members should not rearm against Russia, calling the idea of a Russian military threat to Europe "ridiculous." In an interview, Rovelli stated that Russia cannot even reach Kyiv and noted that Russia had 4% of global military spending compared to NATO's 40%. However, he acknowledged Russia has over 4,000 nuclear warheads, making it the largest stockpiler. Rovelli said the real problem is mutual fear and a lack of reciprocal trust, citing recent Ukrainian strikes on St. Petersburg using NATO weapons as the first time a nuclear superpower has been bombed. He argued that Russian President Vladimir Putin's fear of Ukraine joining NATO, which could allow Western nuclear weapons in the country, prompted the full-scale invasion four years ago. Rovelli criticized Western European governments for using the Russian threat to justify rearmament, calling it "nonsense." The book's title references the Bulletin of Atomic Scientists setting the Doomsday Clock at 85 seconds to midnight in 2026, the closest ever to nuclear catastrophe.
What’s reported
Carlo Rovelli is a 70-year-old Italian theoretical physicist and author of "85 Seconds to Midnight: A Physicist's Argument against Rearmament."
Rovelli stated the idea of Russia being a threat to Europe is "ridiculous," noting Russia had 4% of global military spending and NATO had 40%.
Russia has more than 4,000 nuclear warheads, making it the world's largest stockpiler.
Of the three nuclear superpowers (Russia, US, China), only China has resolved not to be a first-use nuclear state; Russia and the US reserve the right to respond to conventional attacks with nuclear strikes.
Rovelli cited recent Ukrainian strikes on St. Petersburg using NATO weapons as the first time a nuclear superpower has been bombed.
Rovelli argued that Putin's fear of Ukraine joining NATO, enabling Western nuclear weapons in the country, prompted the full-scale invasion four years ago.
Rovelli criticized French, British, and German governments for using the Russian threat to justify rearmament and making war more acceptable.
The Doomsday Clock was set at 85 seconds to midnight in 2026, the closest ever to nuclear catastrophe.
Key figures
Carlo Rovelli: Italian theoretical physicist, author of "85 Seconds to Midnight"
Vladimir Putin: Russian president
Enrico Fermi: Italian physicist who found a way to shatter atomic nuclei in 1934
Niels Bohr: Danish theoretical physicist who met Werner Heisenberg in Copenhagen in 1941
Werner Heisenberg: German theoretical physicist who met Niels Bohr in Copenhagen in 1941
John Wheeler: Late relativity theorist, Manhattan Project worker, Rovelli's friend and mentor
Nikita Khrushchev: Former Soviet premier
John F. Kennedy: Former US president
Mikhail Gorbachev: Former Soviet leader
Ronald Reagan: Former US president
Donald Trump: Former US president
Benjamin Netanyahu: Israeli leader
Sources: The Guardian
