Putin Approves Doctrine Allowing Nuclear Response to Attacks on Russia and Belarus
Russian President Vladimir Putin. X/ @ESakly29885
November 19, 2024 Hour: 7:34 am
‘The updated foundations of nuclear deterrence policy have been published at an appropriate time,’ said Peskov.
On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin approved a new nuclear doctrine allowing the use of nuclear weapons in response to conventional attacks that threaten the sovereignty of Russia and Belarus.
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“The decision to use nuclear weapons is made by the President of the Russian Federation,” the document states, referring to Putin, who also serves as the supreme commander of the Armed Forces.
The doctrine, which replaces the version enacted in 2020, authorizes a nuclear strike if an enemy’s conventional attack poses “a critical threat to the sovereignty and/or territorial integrity” of the countries comprising the Russia-Belarus Union State. It also considers an “aggregate attack” to include aggression by a non-nuclear country that is supported—whether directly involved or not—by a nuclear power.
Published on Russia’s official legal information portal, the doctrine expands the category of military alliances against which Russia will apply its nuclear deterrence strategy.
“An attack by any state belonging to a military coalition against the Russian Federation and/or its allies is viewed as aggression by the coalition as a whole,” it declares.
These last clauses are widely interpreted by analysts as a clear warning to the United States and NATO should they choose to become directly involved in the conflict in Ukraine. Russia may also resort to nuclear weapons in the event of a “massive attack” involving warplanes, cruise missiles, hypersonic weapons, drones, or other unmanned systems that violate Russian airspace.
For the first time, the doctrine explicitly mentions not only enemy aircraft and hypersonic systems but also drones, which have become increasingly prominent in modern warfare. Russia will also implement nuclear deterrence measures if a potential adversary possesses missile defense systems, medium- and short-range cruise missiles, or other weapons that could be used against Russia.
Furthermore, deterrence measures will be considered if existing military alliances expand to include new members, thereby dangerously bringing military infrastructure closer to Russia’s borders, or if large-scale military exercises are planned and conducted near Russian territory.
In a clear reference to the Baltic enclave of Kaliningrad—surrounded by NATO countries—the doctrine outlines deterrence measures in response to any actions by a potential adversary aimed at “isolating part of Russia’s territory,” including blocking access to vital communication routes.
At the same time, the doctrine emphasizes that Russia views nuclear weapons as “a deterrence instrument” of a defensive nature, with their use being “an extreme and forced measure.” Local media suggest that the new doctrine lowers the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons, as the previous version permitted nuclear strikes only if the very existence of the Russian state was threatened.
However, the new doctrine does not automatically signal an increase in Russia’s strategic arsenal or the imminent resumption of nuclear testing, though Moscow has reportedly prepared a military testing site in Novaya Zemlya, the location of the Soviet Union’s last nuclear test in 1990.
“The updated foundations of nuclear deterrence policy have been published at an appropriate time,” said Dmitry Peskov, the presidential spokesperson.
Putin announced changes to the nuclear doctrine in late September as part of an effort to deter NATO from enabling Kyiv to use long-range weapons against targets on Russian soil. He officially enacted the changes on the 1,000th day of fighting in Ukraine.
The announcement also comes after U.S. President Joe Biden made a related decision concerning the border region of Kursk, following months of resisting demands from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Putin, who approved the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus shortly after the war began, warned that such actions imply that the United States and NATO “are at war with Russia.”
teleSUR/ JF Source: EFE
