Russia, Sep 29 (Alliance News): President Vladimir Putin has once again stirred the arms-control landscape by proposing revisions to Russia’s nuclear doctrine during a meeting of his Security Council this week.
This change suggests a potential lowering of the threshold for the use of nuclear weapons, specifically in response to perceived threats from non-nuclear states supported by nuclear ones.
In his statements, Putin indicated that Moscow would consider any attack by a non-nuclear state—if it involves or is backed by a nuclear state—a “joint attack against the Russian Federation.”
He emphasized that nuclear retaliation could be triggered based on “reliable information” about a significant air or space assault on Russia, including attacks from strategic aircraft, cruise missiles, and UAVs.
This doctrinal shift serves as a clear warning to the United States and its allies, particularly as Ukraine seeks long-range weaponry to strike deeper into Russian territory.
By showcasing Russia’s nuclear capabilities, Putin aims to dissuade Western policymakers from further supporting Ukraine amid its ongoing conflict with Russia.
Experts have responded to the announcement with cautious analysis, noting the “deliberate ambiguity” in Putin’s language concerning what constitutes aggression against Russia.
Pavel Podvig, a specialist in Russian nuclear forces, highlighted that the current doctrine lacks differentiation between aggression from nuclear and non-nuclear states, focusing instead on any threat to Russia’s existence.
While the new red lines in Russia’s nuclear policy may be ambiguous, they appear designed for the specific geopolitical context currently unfolding.
Mariana Budjeryn from Harvard’s Belfer Center pointed out that the revision from previous doctrines allows for nuclear weapons to be used in response to extreme threats to state sovereignty, a concept that is likely subject to Putin’s interpretation.
Kristin Ven Bruusgaard, director at the Norwegian Intelligence School, emphasized the performative aspect of Putin’s announcement.
She argued that the act of communicating a change in doctrine garners international attention and serves to instill concern among global leaders, despite the actual content being less concrete than it may seem.
As Russia navigates the complexities of its nuclear posture amidst the ongoing Ukraine conflict, the implications of this doctrinal shift remain a focal point for policymakers and security analysts worldwide.
