Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has announced a revised nuclear doctrine that could lower the threshold for the use of the country’s nuclear arsenal. The update states that a conventional attack by a non-nuclear nation supported by a nuclear power will be viewed as a joint attack on Russia. This move is seen as a response to Ukraine’s push for Western support to use long-range missiles against Russia.
The revised doctrine does not specify if a nuclear response would be used in such a scenario, but it emphasizes that Russia reserves the right to use nuclear weapons in response to a conventional attack that poses a “critical threat to our sovereignty.” This broad language leaves room for interpretation and could lead to a more aggressive stance from Moscow.
The changes come as Russia continues its slow but steady gains in Ukraine, and the Kremlin aims to deter stronger Western support for Kyiv. The new doctrine expands the triggers for potential nuclear weapons use compared to the previous version, which focused on responses to specific types of attacks.
Critics of the current doctrine have argued that it is too vague and weak to deter Western aid to Ukraine. The new formulation aims to make the West more hesitant to allow longer-range strikes, creating ambiguity around the circumstances that could prompt a nuclear response.
Overall, the revised nuclear doctrine signals a more aggressive stance from Russia and raises concerns about the escalation of nuclear threats in the region. The international community will be closely monitoring the situation as tensions continue to rise.
Source
Photo credit www.euronews.com
