Why is Russia revising its nuclear doctrine?

Russia is revising its nuclear doctrine to dispel any uncertainties among its adversaries about its dedication to safeguarding national security by any means necessary.

This announcement was made by Alexander Grushko, the country's Deputy Foreign Minister, Caliber.Az reports via Russian media.

Grushko emphasized that the update to the "Fundamentals of State Policy in the Field of Nuclear Deterrence" aims to dispel any illusions regarding Russia's readiness to protect its sovereignty. He highlighted that the country is considering a range of factors influencing its security and defence capabilities, particularly in light of NATO's increasing emphasis on nuclear weapons within its strategic framework.

On September 25, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced significant changes to the country's nuclear doctrine, broadening the criteria for nuclear weapon usage. Analysts interpret this move as a direct response to discussions about allowing Ukraine to deploy Western missiles capable of striking deep into Russian territory.

During a meeting of the Russian Security Council focused on nuclear deterrence, Putin proposed amendments to the "Fundamentals of State Policy on Nuclear Deterrence," a document first made public just four years ago. He noted the rapidly evolving military and political landscape, necessitating adjustments to address new military threats and risks facing Russia and its allies.

The revised doctrine will introduce two critical provisions:

1. Joint attack consideration: Any aggression against Russia by a non-nuclear state, if supported by a nuclear state, will be regarded as a collective attack on the Russian Federation.

2. Trigger for nuclear response: The doctrine will stipulate that the use of nuclear weapons may be warranted upon receiving "reliable information" about a large-scale launch of aerospace attack systems crossing the Russian border, including strategic and tactical aircraft, cruise missiles, drones, and hypersonic vehicles.

By Tamilla Hasanova