Climate-Nuclear Nexus: Shifting Shadows under Deterrence in the Anthropocene does Climate Change Reshape the Strategic Logic of Nuclear Deterrence in the 21st Century?

This Study scrutinizes the complex interaction between climate change and nuclear deterrent strategies in the 21st century, highlighting how environmental changes are reformulating military priorities and geopolitical dynamics. As the impacts of Climate change exacerbates geopolitical tensions by intensifying resource scarcity, migration flows, and regional instability, thereby creating pathways to conflict in already nuclearized regions. Simultaneously, climate-induced disasters pose risks to nuclear infrastructure, command-and-control systems, and crisis management mechanisms, raising the probability of accidental escalation. The traditional focus on nuclear abilities is being recalibrated to address emerging threats related to climate -induced instability and conflict on decline resources. Traditional nuclear deterrence theory, rooted in Cold War paradigms of rational actors, stable balances of power, and existential threats defined solely by state conflict, faces unprecedented challenges in this new context. This paper examines how climate change reshapes the strategic logic of deterrence by undermining assumptions of rationality, stability, and control that underpin nuclear doctrines. It argues that nuclear deterrence in the Anthropocene must be re-evaluated not only as a military strategy but also as part of a broader framework of human security, global risk management, and cooperative governance. This exploitation reveals that climate change acts as a force multiplier, exacerbating existing geopolitical tensions and promoting an environment conducive to climbing among nuclear armed states. By examining how these factors converge, this analysis emphasizes the urgent need for a paradigm shift in nuclear dissuasive strategies that explains climate -related risks and emphasizes cooperative structures regarding adversary approaches. As nations deal with the double challenges of maintaining nuclear stability and addressing the demands of climate change, the future of deterrent will depend on innovative strategies that harmonize security imperatives with environmental sustainability. The Securitization theory of Copenhagen School will be employed. The analysis underscores the need for integrating climate resilience into nuclear policies and rethinking deterrence in light of interconnected existential threats that transcend national boundaries.