What is special about Russia's new policy on the use of nuclear weapons?
How Does Russia's New Nuclear Policy Affect Global Security?
Sarvapriya SangwanAhad, BBCNovember 22, 2024
Pros:
- Strengthened Deterrence: Discourages potential attacks by emphasizing severe consequences.
- Signal of Resolve: Projects power and reinforces political objectives.
Cons:
- Increased Global Tensions: Heightens risks of miscalculation and conflict escalation.
- Unclear Boundaries: Ambiguities in defining threats raise concerns about arbitrary use.
It was October 2022 when US intelligence officials overheard a secret conversation between Russian military officers that made their hair stand on end.
After listening to this secret conversation, the US openly expressed concerns that Russian President Vladimir Putin could target a military base in Ukraine with nuclear weapons. But this did not happen.
And today, a thousand days have passed since the Russian invasion of Ukraine and nuclear weapons are once again being discussed.
President Putin has changed Russia's nuclear policy in recent days and this has been done by him because Ukraine fired ATACMS missiles received from the US at Russian territory.
Recently, President Putin approved changes to Russia's policy on the use of nuclear weapons, which states that if a country that does not have its own nuclear weapons attacks with the help of a country that does, Russia will consider such an attack a joint attack (by both countries).
Ukraine does not have nuclear weapons, but the United States does, and both the United States and the United Kingdom are with Ukraine in this war and are providing it with weapons.
In addition, the 32-nation military alliance NATO is also supporting Ukraine in this war.
Russia's nuclear policy also states that if Russia is attacked with missiles, drones and air strikes, it can respond to such attacks with nuclear weapons.
Since the start of the war, Ukraine has carried out several air strikes on Russia, including drone strikes, but in recent days it has started using American missiles for attacks.
In addition, some other situations and issues have also been discussed in Russia's nuclear policy.
It further states that if anyone (against Russia) creates a new military alliance, or expands an existing alliance or brings any military infrastructure close to Russia's border, or carries out any military activities close to Russia's border, then nuclear weapons can be used against such an alliance.
Russia has already warned the United States and other European countries about the possibility of a nuclear attack.
Putin said ahead of Russia's March election that Russia would not hesitate to launch a nuclear attack and that the situation could escalate if the US sent troops to Ukraine.
Although no country discloses its arsenal, available data shows that Russia has the largest number of nuclear weapons, estimated at around 5,977.
This number is still slightly higher than the combined nuclear arsenals of the US, UK and France. Some of these weapons are tactical.
Tactical weapons are small nuclear weapons designed to target a specific area. These tactical weapons can be launched by missiles. Like cruise missiles, they do not cause any radiation damage over long distances and can contain up to a kiloton of nuclear explosives. The atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima by the US was 15 kilotons.
These tactical weapons have never been used in war to date.
But Putin's statements about the use of nuclear weapons are called rhetoric in the media and in the West, meaning that he is just talking. So how much of a risk is there that he will actually do what he is saying?
Some experts believe that if Russia faces repeated failures in the near future or fears defeat, it may use tactical weapons. However, it is quite possible that China will not support any such move by Russia.
Russia is very dependent on China in many respects. China's nuclear policy is that it will never use nuclear weapons first, and if Russia exercises the option of using nuclear weapons, China may not support it.
Some experts see it as Putin wanting to upset everyone again with his new policy on nuclear weapons. They believe that Putin wants to increase his influence in the world through this. The United States has criticized Putin's new policy, but his statement did not give any reason for concern.
Related Topics
#Nuclear_weapons #Ukraine #Ukraine_Russia_conflict #Vladimir_Putin #Russia #war
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