International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) expressed this Monday its concern about the United States’ announcement that it will develop a new generation of atomic weapons and warned that its potential destructive power It will be 22 times larger than the bomb that killed 140,000 people in Hiroshima. Japan in 1945.

The new B61-13 bomb, details of which the Pentagon released last week, “This is an irresponsible escalation of a new arms race”This was stated by ICAN Executive Director Melissa Park.

“Announce these plans in the midst of conflicts in Europe and the Middle East involving countries with nuclear weapons (Russia and Israel). This is an arrogant act in the face of efforts to ensure that these weapons of mass destruction are not used again,” he added.

The official note says organization awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2017 He explained that the new bomb that the United States Army would develop – if it received the necessary congressional authorization – Its capacity will be 360 ​​kilotons. compared to 16 bombs that exploded over Hiroshima 78 years ago.

ICAN also recalled that another nuclear weapon included in US defense modernization plans, the B61-12, It has already been deployed at NATO bases. in Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey.

“We demand that Washington cancel these modernization programs.and instead fulfill our obligations under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty by launching negotiations on nuclear disarmament,” Park added.

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The use of this type of weapon, the executive director recalled, “This will entail indiscriminate killing of civilians.” and destruction of critical civilian infrastructure—actions that constitute war crimes.”

(EFE)