Physicist Carlo Rovelli argues against NATO rearmament in new book
12 reported
Italian theoretical physicist Carlo Rovelli, author of the new book "85 Seconds to Midnight," argues that the idea of Russia being a military threat to Europe is "ridiculous" and that mutual fear, not aggression, drives the current nuclear standoff. In an interview, Rovelli cited that Russia has 4% of global military spending compared to NATO's 40%, though Russia possesses over 4,000 nuclear warheads. He expressed concern that Ukraine, using NATO weapons, bombed St. Petersburg and attempted to bomb Moscow, marking the first time a nuclear superpower has been bombed. Rovelli contends that Russian President Putin's fear of NATO placing nuclear weapons in Ukraine motivated the full-blown invasion four years ago. He criticized European governments for using the Russian threat to justify rearmament, calling such fears "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 known for work on loop quantum gravity.
His new book "85 Seconds to Midnight" is subtitled "A Physicist’s Argument against Rearmament."
Rovelli stated Russia has 4% of world military spending and NATO has 40%.
Russia has more than 4,000 nuclear warheads, making it the largest stockpiler.
Of Russia, US, and China, only China has resolved not to be a first-use nuclear state.
Rovelli said Ukraine, using NATO weapons, bombed St. Petersburg and tried to bomb Moscow.
He called this the first time a nuclear superpower has been bombed.
Rovelli argued Putin's fear of NATO placing nukes in Ukraine prompted the invasion four years ago.
He criticized French, British, and German governments for rearmament rhetoric.
Rovelli cited the 1962 Cuban missile crisis as a key moment of Russian fear of western aggression.
The Doomsday Clock was set at 85 seconds to midnight in 2026.
Rovelli was jailed as a student for refusing the draft in Italy.
Key figures
Carlo Rovelli: Italian theoretical physicist, author of "85 Seconds to Midnight"
Vladimir Putin: Russian president
John Wheeler: Late relativity theorist, Manhattan Project worker, Rovelli's friend and mentor
Enrico Fermi: Italian physicist who found a way to shatter atomic nuclei in 1934
Niels Bohr: Danish theoretical physicist
Werner Heisenberg: German theoretical physicist
Nikita Khrushchev: Former Soviet premier
John F. Kennedy: Former US president
Mikhail Gorbachev: Former Soviet leader
Ronald Reagan: Former US president
Sources: The Guardian
