Why Russia would win Cold War with USA in 2021

THE RUSSIAN-USA Cold War spanned several decades with tensions worsening significantly during that time and now post-Cold War tensions between the two superpower nations are at a new low. But why would Russia win a Cold War with the USA in 2021?

Putin boasts Russia has ‘surpassed’ US in weapons systems

A new cold war is underway between the  and its chief geopolitical rivals China and according to a poll published last month. A study by the European Council on Foreign Affairs found 59 percent of Europeans believed a new cold war was taking place between Moscow and Washington. The polling data found the Cold War at play risked alienating European voters.

Tensions between Russia and the USA have stepped up significantly recently with Russia’s Defence Ministry stating its warship prevented a US Navy destroyer from what it described as an attempt to intrude into Russia’s territorial waters in the Sea of Japan.

The incident, reported on Friday, came as Russia and China undertook joint naval drills in the region.

It came after other close encounters involving Russian and Western warships.

The US has disputed Russia’s account of this event - but the incident has been hailed as a sign relations between Moscow and the West are at a post-Cold War low.

READ MORE: EU facing two key problems to continued existence

Russia-USA Cold War

Russia-USA Cold War: Why would Russia beat the USA if a Cold War were to erupt? (Image: GETTY)

Russia-USA Cold War: Mr Putin

Russia-USA Cold War: Tensions between Russia and the USA have worsened recently (Image: GETTY)

Russia has the most extensive nuclear arsenals ahead of the USA, as of May 2021.

Around the world, there are an estimated 13,080 nuclear warheads.

Moscow had an estimated 6,257 weapons at that time, including deployed, stockpiled and retired warheads awaiting disarmament according to data from the Federation of American Scientists.

The US has the second-largest nuclear arsenal with an estimated 5,550 weapons.

Russia-USA Cold War: Mr Putin

Russia-USA Cold War: Russia has the most extensive nuclear arsenals ahead of the USA (Image: GETTY)

revealed the number of nuclear weapons in the US stockpile for the first time in four years this month.

The US has 3,750 nuclear warheads in its stockpile and 2,000 are waiting to be dismantled, according to a release from the State Department, which emphasised the importance of transparency.

The figures were shared as the Biden administration conducts a review of its nuclear weapons policy and capabilities ahead of a 2022 meeting of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty conference.

The State Department said: “Increasing the transparency of states' nuclear stockpiles is important to nonproliferation and disarmament efforts, including commitments under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, and efforts to address all types of nuclear weapons, including deployed and non-deployed, and strategic and non-strategic.”

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Russia-USA Cold War: Nuclear weapons

Russia-USA Cold War: Countries with the biggest nuclear arsenals (Image: STATISTA)

The Arms Control Association released a statement earlier this month in the wake of these figures about the nuclear arsenals.

The statement read: “The Biden administration's decision to declassify updated information on the number of nuclear warheads in the US nuclear weapons arsenal is a welcome step that reverses an unwise decision by the Trump administration to classify this information.

“It also puts pressure on other nuclear-armed states that maintain excessive secrecy about their arsenals.”

The ACA said additions to the USA’s nuclear arsenal have stalled in recent years, whereas other nations such as China and Russia appear to be increasing the size and diversity of their nuclear warhead collections.

Russia-USA Cold War: Vladimir Putin

Russia-USA Cold War: Russia has an estimated 6,257 nuclear warheads (Image: GETTY)

The third-largest holder of these weapons is China, which has less than a tenth of the supply of either former Cold War power.

Beijing has an estimated 350 nuclear weapons, closely followed by an estimated 290 nuclear warheads owned by France.

There are the remaining number of nuclear warheads around the globe:

  • France: 290
  • The UK: 225
  • Pakistan: 165
  • India: 160
  • Israel: 90
  • North Korea: 45

Weapons in China are expected to increase once the silo fields in Hami and Yumen are completed.

China’s construction of nearly 250 new silos has serious implications for international relations and China’s role in the world.

The Chinese government has for decades insisted it has a minimum deterrent and that it is not part of any nuclear arms race.

Approximately 230 siles are being built at the two fields mentioned above.

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