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Nuclear weapons becoming 'safe harbor' for non-nuclear states, Shoigu warns at security forum
Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu warned that non-nuclear countries are increasingly considering nuclear weapons as their only security guarantee amid global instability. Speaking at a security forum, Shoigu criticized Western expansion, French nuclear deployments, and warned that Middle East escalation could trigger global energy crises and humanitarian disasters.
Quick Facts
Who
Sergey Shoigu
What
Non-nuclear countries considering nuclear weapons acquisition
When
May 28, 2026
Where
Moscow
- Non-nuclear countries considering nuclear weapons acquisition
- Collapse of unipolar world architecture
- Western expansion and resource control
- France pursuing nuclear deployments in third countries
- Strait of Hormuz blockade causing energy shortage
Russian Security Council Secretary Sergey Shoigu warned on Thursday that many countries previously without nuclear weapons are now seriously considering acquiring them as their only "safe harbor" amid global instability. Speaking at the 1st International Security Forum under the auspices of the Russian Security Council, Shoigu outlined his assessment of emerging threats to global strategic stability.
Shoigu characterized the international system as undergoing fundamental transformation, with the unipolar world architecture collapsing and countries from the Global South and East strengthening their positions. He attributed current global tensions to what he described as Western states' pursuit of external expansion and control over other nations' resources, characterizing this as modern neocolonialism. According to Shoigu, deliberate steps are being taken to undermine global strategic stability, including efforts to provoke non-aligned nations into a nuclear arms race.
Addressing nuclear proliferation concerns, Shoigu criticized France's nuclear posture, stating that France's pursuit of joint nuclear exercises and deployment of its weapons in third countries is "categorically unacceptable" and requires a coordinated response from Global South and East nations in support of comprehensive nuclear testing bans.
Shoigu also warned of cascading regional threats, particularly regarding Middle East escalation. He cautioned that a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz could trigger severe energy shortages, disrupt production chains, and drive food price increases globally. Further escalation could result in mass displacement, environmental catastrophe, and humanitarian crises affecting tens of millions of people through water shortages and infrastructure collapse.
The Security Council Secretary expressed concern that Western nations are attempting to involve non-aligned countries in supplying arms and military equipment to Ukraine, though his remarks on this topic were incomplete in the source material provided.
Why This Matters
Shoigu's warnings signal a fundamental shift in nuclear strategy calculations: non-nuclear states may now view weapons acquisition as their primary security hedge against great-power competition and regional conflicts. This threatens the post-Cold War non-proliferation framework and could accelerate nuclear weapons development in sensitive regions like the Middle East, fundamentally reshaping global security architecture and increasing risks of nuclear miscalculation.
Timeline & Sources
May 28, 2026
WireSergey Shoigu addresses International Security Forum with statements on nuclear proliferation, Western expansion, and Middle East escalation