Kathrine Frich
The war in Ukraine have revived anxieties many believed belonged to the past.
Military warnings, political rhetoric and televised threats have combined to fuel fears of a wider confrontation.
As the war in Ukraine grinds on, attention is increasingly turning to what a worst-case scenario could look like far beyond Europe.
Rising war fears
Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued repeated warnings to NATO since launching the invasion of Ukraine.
Western officials say the language has grown sharper as the conflict drags on.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said this week that the world must be ready for a conflict resembling those faced by previous generations.
On top of that Russian state media has openly discussed how a future war with the United States might unfold.
Targets identified
Russian television has previously outlined US sites it claims would be prioritised in a nuclear confrontation.
The programmes did not describe confirmed attack plans, but analysts say such broadcasts are designed to intimidate and signal capability.
Among the locations highlighted is the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, the headquarters of the US Department of Defense and a central symbol of American military power.
Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia was also identified. It is the largest naval base in the world and hosts the highest concentration of US Navy forces, with tens of thousands of personnel and constant air operations.
Bases and commands
Other facilities mentioned include Kings Bay Naval Base in Georgia, a key hub for US Navy submarines, and several major Air Force bases tied to America’s nuclear deterrent.
These include Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana, home to the 2nd Bomb Wing, and Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri, where the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber is stationed.
US Strategic Command, which oversees nuclear deterrence and cyber defence, has also been cited, along with communications sites such as the VLF Array Lualualei in Hawaii, used to transmit orders to submerged submarines.
Cold War echoes
Further locations named in past broadcasts include Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota, Malmstrom Air Force Base in Montana and Warren Air Force Base in Wyoming.
These bases are all linked to intercontinental ballistic missile operations.
Russian state TV presenter Dmitry Kiselyov previously went even further, referring to defunct installations such as Fort Ritchie in Maryland and McClellan Air Force Base in California, as well as Camp David, the US presidential retreat.
While the Kremlin has issued only ambiguous official nuclear threats, experts say the messaging reflects a deliberate attempt to revive Cold War-style pressure on Washington.
Sources: Daily Express Russian state television
