Tue Nov 19 14:40:00 UTC 2024: **Putin Unveils Revised Nuclear Doctrine After Biden Approves Long-Range Missile Strikes on Russia**
MOSCOW – Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a revised nuclear doctrine on Tuesday, the 1000th day of the war in Ukraine, expanding the circumstances under which Russia might use nuclear weapons. The move comes one day after President Biden authorized Ukraine to use U.S.-supplied longer-range missiles to strike targets within Russia.
The updated doctrine states that any attack on Russia supported by a nuclear power could trigger a nuclear response. It also specifies that Russia could use nuclear weapons in response to aggression against its ally, Belarus. While the doctrine doesn’t guarantee nuclear retaliation, it highlights the unpredictable nature of the response, citing uncertainty regarding scale, timing, and location as key elements of deterrence.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated that the revision, initially discussed in September, was timed to reflect the current geopolitical situation and was not solely a reaction to President Biden’s decision. The revised doctrine broadens the conditions for nuclear use, including responses to air attacks employing various weaponry such as ballistic and cruise missiles, aircraft, and drones.
The previous doctrine focused on retaliatory nuclear strikes only in response to ballistic missile attacks targeting Russia or its allies. The new version, however, deems an attack on Russia by a non-nuclear power, with the support of a nuclear power, as a joint attack, justifying a nuclear response. This broadened interpretation has raised concerns amongst some, with allies of former President Trump warning that Biden’s decision risks escalating the conflict to a global scale.
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