Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday approved a nuclear doctrine that allows for nuclear-armed responses to conventional attacks threatening the sovereignty of Russia and Belarus.
The doctrine authorizes a nuclear attack in the event that the enemy conventional attack would entail. “a critical threat to sovereignty and (or) territorial integrity.” of both countries, which make up the Russia-Belarus State Union.
The document also will consider “joint attack” aggression by a country that lacks atomic weapons, but has the backing of a nuclear power.
The doctrine, published on the Russian state legal information portal, expands the category of military alliances against which Russia will apply the nuclear deterrence strategy.
“Aggression by any state belonging to a military coalition (bloc, alliance) against the Russian Federation and (or) its allies… is seen as an aggression of the coalition. as a whole,” he says.
These last two clauses are considered by analysts to be a clear warning to the United States and NATOshould they decide to become directly involved in the conflict in Ukraine.
Response in case of drone attack
Russia may resort to nuclear weapons also in case of “massive attack.” with warplanes, cruise missileshypersonic, hypersonic, drones and other unmanned aerial vehicles that violate the country’s airspace.
For the first time, the document alludes not only to enemy aviation and hypersonic devices, but also dronesan instrument of warfare that has gained great popularity in recent years.
At the same time, the doctrine stresses that Russia views nuclear weapons as. “an instrument of deterrence.” of a defensive nature, the use of which is an “extreme and forcible measure”.
Putin had announced changes in nuclear doctrine at the end of September, but enacted it just as the 1,000th day of fighting in Ukraine comes to a close.
In addition, the announcement comes after the U.S. authorized Ukraine to the use of long-range missiles against Russian territory.
Putin, who approved after the outbreak of the war the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.had warned that such a decision would mean that the US and NATO “are at war with Russia”.