Afrasianet - Russian President Vladimir Putin approved by decree issued Tuesday the country's updated nuclear doctrine.
The presidential decree stated that "with a view to improving the Russian state policy in the field of nuclear deterrence, I decide to adopt (document) "Principles of state policy of the Russian Federation in the field of nuclear deterrence".
The decree will enter into force on the date of its signature, i.e. November 19.
The updated Russian nuclear doctrine confirms that the state's policy in the field of nuclear deterrence is defensive in nature, that Russia is making all necessary efforts to reduce the nuclear threat, and views nuclear weapons as a means of deterrence and considers their use a last resort measure.
The following are the main provisions of the Russian nuclear doctrine:
• Deterring a potential enemy from aggression against Russia and its allies is one of the government's top priorities
• Aggression against Russia and its allies by a non-nuclear state and supported by a nuclear state would be considered a joint attack
• Russia's willingness and determination to use nuclear weapons will ensure nuclear deterrence
• Russia could use nuclear weapons in the event of a serious threat to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of itself and Belarus
• One of the conditions for the use of nuclear weapons is the launch of ballistic missiles at Russia
• Providing land and resources for aggression against Russia is the basis for using nuclear deterrence against such a state
• The aggression of any country of the military alliance against Russia or its allies is considered aggression by this alliance as a whole
• Russia reserves the right to use nuclear weapons in response to the use of weapons of mass destruction against itself or its allies
• Russia exercises nuclear deterrence against a potential adversary, a concept that includes countries, blocs and alliances that consider Russia an adversary.
• State policy on nuclear deterrence aims to keep the potential of nuclear forces at a level sufficient for nuclear deterrence
• Maintaining uncertainty for a potential adversary regarding the size and location of the use of nuclear weapons is a principle of nuclear deterrence
• Nuclear deterrence is aimed at ensuring that a potential adversary is aware of the inevitability of retaliation in the event of aggression against Russia.
• State policy in the field of nuclear deterrence in a military conflict guarantees the cessation of hostilities on terms acceptable to Russia
• Maintaining the permanent readiness of the part of the nuclear deterrent forces intended for use is one of the principles of Russian nuclear deterrence
• The deployment of missile defense systems in space by the enemy poses a danger that nuclear deterrence is used to neutralize
• Centralization of control over nuclear forces, including those outside Russian territory, is a principle of nuclear deterrence.
• Nuclear deterrence is ensured by the presence of troops and means in the Russian armed forces capable of inflicting unacceptable damage to the enemy using nuclear weaponsLast September, Putin instructed the Russian Security Council to adapt the policy of nuclear deterrence to the new variables in the military and political situation, and proposed to provide a number of clarifications on the conditions for Russia's use of nuclear weapons.
Putin's signing of the decree on modifying Russia's nuclear deterrence policy comes two days after US President Joe Biden reportedly allowed Kiev forces to launch strikes using long-range ATACMS missiles deep into Russian territory.
Foreign Ministry reveals the reasons for updating the Russian nuclear doctrine
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said Russia was working to update its nuclear doctrine so that its adversaries had no illusions about Moscow's readiness to ensure its security by all available means.
"We are taking into account the full range of factors that affect strategic stability and our security and defense capabilities. To this end, we are updating the fundamentals of state policy in the field of nuclear deterrence, so that adversaries have no illusions about our readiness to ensure Russia's security by all available means.
According to him, in political and military-technical terms, "the nuclear NATO countries, and the alliance itself, which considered itself a nuclear power, are on the path of increasing the role of nuclear weapons in the strategy of this alliance."
At the end of September, Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed to discuss the modernization of the foundations of Russia's nuclear deterrence policy during the Permanent Meeting of the Russian Security Council on Nuclear Deterrence.
President Putin called on the Russian Security Council to adapt the policy of nuclear deterrence to new variables, and the Russian president pointed out that "Russia must take into account changes in the military and political situation."
"In the updated version of the document (Fundamentals of State Policy in the Field of Nuclear Deterrence), it is proposed that aggression against Russia by any non-nuclear state, but with the participation or support of a nuclear state, be considered as a joint attack on the Russian Federation.
President Putin added that Russia reserves the right to use nuclear weapons in any attack, including if the enemy has used conventional weapons against it, in a manner that poses a serious and serious threat.
Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Vershinin said the United States and its allies would become direct participants in the conflict alongside Kiev by allowing it to strike deep into Russia with their weapons.
Sergei Vershinin said on the sidelines of the seventy-ninth session of the UN General Assembly: "If they agree and allow Kiev to launch strikes deep into Russian territory with their weapons, they will become direct participants in the conflict."
"We have already evaluated this scenario many times, and the president of Russia has evaluated this scenario, and it is clear that in this case it will be confirmed that the United States and its allies will become direct participants in military actions against Russia, which is a nuclear power," he added.
Italy said it did not support the decision by Ukrainian forces to bomb deep into Russian territory, while German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said he would not help Ukraine convince the United States, Britain and France to lift restrictions on the use of long-range weapons to strike deep into Russian territory.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen called on Kiev's allies to stop talking about red lines over arms supplies to Ukraine and allow it to strike deep into Russian territory.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that allowing the targeting of the depth of Russian territory would mean the direct involvement of NATO in the conflict and change its essence, and that Russia would be forced to make its decisions based on these new risks.