Weapons of mass destruction do pose a threat to global security, even though steps have been taken over the last few decades to limit the potential impact of these weapons. Nuclear proliferation was a major problem in society for a long time, as states postured to one another in fear. However, there have been steps taken to limit the spread of nuclear weapons, and the reality of mutually assured destruction helps to keep the utilization of nuclear weapons low today. However, nuclear weapons are not the only weapons of mass destruction, and state actors are not the only ones who can get their hands on these weapons.

This is what causes the real concern in global security. There has been a period of decentralization, and more, there has been a shock to the international system in terms of stability. An unstable system in which various non-state groups can get their hands on harmful weapons is one to be feared, especially given some of the motivations of groups that do not mind being blown off the map as long as they take down someone with them. Given the way weapons of mass destruction would play out in the modern world, biological weapons are the most concerning to me, especially in the hands of terrorist groups.

The threat of state use of nuclear weapons is at a lower point now than it has been in quite some time. Even with the volatility of the American sitting president and his willingness to talk about using nuclear weapons, there is not a major global conflict going on right now. The United States is still fighting wars, but those wars are small in scope and are not against actual states. This limits the potential use of weapons of mass destruction. Beyond that, the US does not really have a chief military competitor at this point in time. Because of increases in spending and the way other countries have prioritized their spending, the US is in such a dominant military position that it is almost certain to not be challenged by a global power in today’s world. Even China and Russia, who are both large and powerful, do not have the military strength to challenge the US. This keeps the chances of nuclear weapon use low, as other countries realize that the US would have the arsenal to blow them away if those countries decided to ever use weapons of this nature.

Critically, there are two wild card situations that throw that certainty into some doubt. While it seems likely that North Korea’s testing of nuclear weapons is just the posturing of a despot in charge, the volatility of that leader is a major reason for uncertainty. It is not fair for anyone to say they know what North Korea will do because North Korea in the current time has shown itself to be extreme in many ways. In addition to that, there exists an ongoing conflict between India and Pakistan that has not been resolved. These two countries have been fighting for so long that finding real resolution of their issues seems almost as deep as finding a permanent solution for the Israel and Palestine situation. With both of these countries willing to use weapons potentially, the threat has not been totally abated.

Perhaps more frightening is the way in which technology has developed to allow weapons of mass destructions to be delivered into sensitive areas without the need for massive state action. Terrorist groups have shown themselves willing to use suicide bombing and to fly planes into buildings, so there is little doubt that they would use whatever weapons were within their reach to have the impact they want. Biological weapons present the possibility of one individual releasing a substance that could kill tens of thousands of people in one of the world’s great cities. This has become easier in the modern world because of the focus on sustainable forms of transportation. Subways in the United States are often underground, and they make easy targets for people who want to do harm.

This combination of the rise of non-state actors and the way in which society has developed could make it easy for a terrorist to do tremendous damage with these weapons. At the same time, countries like the United States have expanded their intelligence gathering capabilities to such an extent that they can head off some of these potential attacks before they happen. It would be difficult for a person to buy the materials necessary to make a biological weapon within the United States without bringing about some suspicion. It would be more difficult to import those things, especially under the current scrutiny that is being applies. While the US seems protected on this front, Europe presents more problems. The borders are more porous and the intelligence community there has not been as aggressive in conducting mass surveillance in order to get a handle on the activities of potentially harmful people.

As it stands, nuclear weapons do not seem like a major concern, and other weapons of mass destruction in the hands of state actors do not seem like something that will be deployed given the human rights protocols that are in place today. Leaders can no longer hide, as technology makes it easier to expose their crimes. On the other hand, the rise of terrorist groups and non-state actors has produced an environment where other types of weapons of mass destruction—including biological weapons—could easily be deployed to injure many people in the great cities of the world.