Nuclear Era's Commemoration: A Glance at Hiroshima's 80th Anniversary

Nuclear Era's Commemoration: A Glance at Hiroshima's 80th Anniversary

As we mark the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, concerns about nuclear brinkmanship and the use of atomic weapons in international politics remain high. In 1945, the Boeing 29, named "Enola Gay," took off from the US base on Tinian at 2:45 AM on August 6, carrying the bomb that would be dropped on Hiroshima, killing approximately 80,000 residents.

Fast forward to 2025, and the landscape of nuclear disarmament is complex and dynamic, particularly among the US, Russia, Japan, and Germany. The UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW), adopted in 2017, aims to ban all nuclear weapons possession and use. Although it has 93 signatories, with 73 ratifying or acceding to it, none of the nine nuclear-armed states, such as the US and Russia, have signed or ratified this treaty. Japan and Germany, as non-nuclear weapon states, have signed or ratified the treaty, reflecting their commitment to nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament norms.

The Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT), adopted in 1996, prohibits all nuclear explosions. It has been signed by 187 nations and ratified by 178, but cannot enter into force until ratified by 44 specific states, including the US and Russia, which have not ratified it. This impedes full global enforcement of the treaty.

The New START Treaty, a key bilateral arms control agreement between the US and Russia that limited deployed strategic nuclear warheads, expired in early 2026 after a one-year extension expired in 2025. As of August 2025, no new formal replacement has been announced, increasing uncertainty over nuclear arms control between the two largest nuclear powers.

The Iran Nuclear Deal (JCPOA), related to nuclear nonproliferation rather than disarmament alone, is effectively stalled after the US withdrawal in 2018 and Iran’s breach of restrictions. Renewed talks have failed to produce a return to compliance, leaving regional nuclear tensions high.

In terms of international politics, the US and Russia remain central nuclear actors, maintaining large nuclear arsenals and nuclear doctrines that emphasize mutual deterrence and strategic stability. Both have shown reluctance to fully engage with new disarmament treaties like the TPNW and have stepped back from some arms control commitments.

Japan and Germany, as non-nuclear weapon states and US allies, rely on the US nuclear umbrella for deterrence but have supported disarmament initiatives such as the TPNW indirectly through civil society advocacy and political pressure. This reflects their commitment to nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament norms.

In Nagasaki, 93-year-old peace activist Terumi Tanaka, a survivor of the atomic inferno, states that every bomb is a security risk because it can ultimately be used. History has proven that nuclear weapons can be used, as demonstrated by the bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

Eighty years after the bombings, there are nine nuclear powers, with the USA and Russia having the largest arsenals. Voices are being raised in Germany and the EU calling for their own nuclear armament, while Russia has formally withdrawn from the INF Treaty on the prohibition of short and medium-range missiles, following the USA’s withdrawal in 2019. US President Trump deployed two nuclear submarines closer to Russia, and Russian politicians have repeatedly threatened nuclear strikes in the dispute over the Ukraine war.

In this complex web of power and politics, the role of nuclear weapons continues to be a significant factor in international relations. As we remember the devastating consequences of their use, the push for nuclear disarmament and the maintenance of arms control agreements remain crucial for global peace and security.

References:

1. Arms Control Association
2. International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN)
3. Nuclear Threat Initiative
4. Stimson Center
5. United Nations Office for Disarmament Affairs
6. Despite the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons aiming to ban all nuclear weapons possession and use, none of the nine nuclear-armed states, such as the US and Russia, have signed or ratified this treaty, creating a complex nuclear disarmament landscape in 2025.
7. In 2025, the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty, which prohibits all nuclear explosions, has been signed by 187 nations and ratified by 178, but can't enter into force until ratified by 44 specific states, including the US and Russia, which have not ratified it.
8. The New START Treaty, a key bilateral arms control agreement between the US and Russia, expired in early 2026, increasing uncertainty over nuclear arms control between the two largest nuclear powers, and as of August 2025, no new formal replacement has been announced.
9. Japan and Germany, as non-nuclear weapon states, have shown their commitment to nuclear nonproliferation and disarmament norms by signing or ratifying the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons, while relying on the US nuclear umbrella for deterrence.
10. In the realm of general news, voices are being raised in Germany and the EU calling for their own nuclear armament, while Russia has formally withdrawn from the INF Treaty on the prohibition of short and medium-range missiles, leading to a rise in international tensions.
11. In entertainment, the film "80 Seconds," released in 2025, depicts the devastating consequences of the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers posed by nuclear weapons and the importance of nuclear disarmament.

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