November 19th 2024.
In a recent announcement, President Vladimir Putin of Russia has made significant changes to the country's nuclear doctrine. This decision was made following US President Joe Biden's move to allow Ukraine to use longer-range missiles supplied by the United States to target Russian territory.
The new doctrine, which was revealed on Tuesday, states that Moscow may respond with nuclear weapons to a conventional attack from any nation supported by a nuclear power. This is a significant shift from the previous doctrine, which did not explicitly mention the use of nuclear weapons in response to a conventional strike. However, the language used in the new doctrine is intentionally broad, leaving room for interpretation and allowing Putin to keep his options open.
The announcement came after Russia's Defense Ministry reported that Ukraine had launched six US-made ATACMS missiles at a military facility in the Bryansk region, which shares a border with Ukraine. Five of the missiles were intercepted by Russian air defenses, while one caused minor damage.
There has been speculation that this updated doctrine was a response to Biden's decision, but Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that the document had been in the works for some time and was simply "timely" given the current situation. Putin had first announced plans to revise the nuclear doctrine in September and had chaired a meeting to discuss the proposed changes.
In the past, Putin has warned the US and other NATO allies that allowing Ukraine to use Western-supplied weapons to attack Russian territory would be seen as an act of war. This warning was reiterated in the updated doctrine, which also includes language about a potential joint attack on Russia by a non-nuclear power and a nuclear power.
The British Prime Minister, Keir Starmer, has condemned the revised doctrine as an act of "irresponsibility" by the "depraved Russian government". The UK spokesperson went on to say that Russia is the one escalating the conflict in Ukraine and urged Putin to withdraw his troops and end the violence.
The updated doctrine also includes more detailed conditions for using nuclear weapons, such as in the case of a massive air attack involving ballistic and cruise missiles, aircraft, drones, and other flying vehicles. This language is seen as a significant expansion from the previous version, which only mentioned the use of nuclear weapons in response to a ballistic missile attack.
The document also addresses the use of nuclear weapons in the event of aggression by a member of a military bloc or coalition, specifically mentioning NATO. This is seen as a clear message to the Western alliance that any aggression towards Russia will not be tolerated.
Since the conflict in Ukraine began, Putin and other Russian leaders have frequently threatened the West with the country's nuclear arsenal as a deterrent. This has led to calls from Russian hawks to toughen the nuclear doctrine and make it clear that Russia is willing to use nuclear weapons if necessary.
The decision to revise the nuclear doctrine demonstrates Putin's willingness to use all available means to protect Russia's interests and preserve its territorial integrity. As the conflict in Ukraine reaches its 1000th day, it is clear that Putin is prepared to tap into the country's nuclear arsenal to force the West to back down.
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