UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres appears to have appreciated the historical realism of the film “Oppenheimer.”
The head of the United Nations referred to Christopher Nolan's Oscar-winning film on Monday to warn of the risk of nuclear war.
“We meet today at a time when geopolitical tensions and mistrust have raised the risk of nuclear war to its highest level in several decades,” recalled Antonio Guterres during a meeting of the Security Council. security on nuclear non-proliferation organized by Japan.
“The Doomsday Clock is ticking, and its haunting ticking rings in all ears,” he added.
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In Hollywood, Christopher Nolan's film "Oppenheimer" "brought to life the harsh reality of nuclear apocalypse for millions of people around the world," noted the Secretary General.
“But humanity cannot survive a sequel to Oppenheimer.
All these voices, all these warnings, all these survivors implore the world to move away from the precipice towards which it is rushing,” he believes.
The film traces key moments in the life of Robert Oppenheimer, the physicist who brought the planet into the nuclear age, precipitating the end of World War II when the United States dropped atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Also readChristopher Nolan: “I don’t know a more tragic destiny than Oppenheimer’s life”
A dangerous escalation
Antonio Guterres is particularly concerned about a new nuclear arms race.
“Instruments of war are the subject of much greater investment than instruments of peace.
Countries are sinking considerable resources into deadly new nuclear technologies and expanding the threat to new areas,” he lamented.
Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine, some European states, including France, have agreed to revive their defense industries.
“And some statements have raised the prospect of nuclear hell unleashing, threats that we must collectively denounce loud and clear,” he added, without naming any country.
Since committing his troops to Ukraine, Vladimir Putin has repeatedly warned Western countries of the possibility of nuclear war.
“Today, these weapons are gaining in power, range and stealth.
All it takes is one bad decision, an error of judgment, a hasty action for an accidental launch to occur,” recalled Antonio Guterres.
As the UN Security Council has never been more divided, it called for "recognition that only by working together can we eradicate the risk of nuclear holocaust."