Russia Brandishes Nuclear Swords at Free World

As if the free world doesn’t have enough troubles that threaten the existence of humanity. Now Vladimir Putin has reminded everyone that Russia is in possession of a deadly nuclear arsenal that he is ready to use if provoked even slightly – even by a non-nuclear country.

The Russian führer signed on Tuesday, June 2, the latest diabolical decree approving the “Basics of Russia’s State Policy on Nuclear Deterrence” that not only doesn’t disavow stockpiling of nuclear weapons but also gives him the authority to use this type of weapon of mass destruction against aggressors and other enemies. Consider it Putin’s personal Mein Kampf.

The document, published on the official website of the Russian government, expands and clarifies the list of conditions for Russia’s use of nuclear forces that appeared in earlier versions.

The overall tone of the decree with its murderous potential and ominous consequences reaffirms that Putin’s Russia was never interested in seeking peaceful, non-violent and non-militaristic solutions to regional or global conflicts. Think impertinently about Russia and you’ll suffer the penalty.

According to the 2014 edition of the military doctrine, the Russian president could press the “nuclear button” whenever he detects a nuclear or other threat, as well as aggression using conventional armed forces, that endanger the “very existence of the state” – Russia. That document alone should have been enough to make the free world sit up and listen to Russia’s inhuman nuclear threats at a time when the civilized world was seeking ways to curb WMDs use. Each iteration of Russia’s military doctrine cast a darker pall on Putin and his cohorts in the Kremlin, justifying the free world’s strongest condemnation of their actions. However, the opposite occurred. Sanctions were tepidly limited and ineffective while Putin continued to be accepted and recognized by the global fraternity of leaders.

As a matter of fact, we read in the version of six years ago such hair-raising passages about Russia’s nuclear intentions:

“Main tasks of the Russian Federation with regard to deterring and preventing military conflicts are:

… to resist attempts by some states or group of states to achieve military superiority through the deployment of strategic missile defense systems, the placement of weapons in outer space or the deployment of strategic non-nuclear high-precision weapon systems;

… The Russian Federation has the legitimate right to employ the Armed Forces, other troops and bodies to repel aggression against itself and/or its allies, to maintain (restore) peace as decided by the UN Security Council or another collective security body, as well as to protect its citizens abroad in accordance with generally recognized principles and norms of international law and international treaties of the Russian Federation.

… Within the framework of strategic deterrence measures of a forceful nature the use of high-precision weapons is envisaged by the Russian Federation.

… The Russian Federation shall reserve the right to use nuclear weapons in response to the use of nuclear and other types of weapons of mass destruction against it and/or its allies, as well as in the event of aggression against the Russian Federation with the use of conventional weapons when the very existence of the state is in jeopardy.

… The decision to use nuclear weapons shall be taken by the President of the Russian Federation.

… The Armed Forces of the Russian Federation may be employed outside the country to protect the interests of the Russian Federation and its citizens and to maintain international peace and security in accordance with the generally recognized principles and norms of international law, international treaties of the Russian Federation and the federal legislation.

… The main tasks of the Armed Forces, other troops and bodies in peacetime are:

… to protect sovereignty, territorial integrity of the Russian Federation and inviolability of its territory;

… to ensure strategic (nuclear and non-nuclear) deterrence, including the prevention of military conflicts;

… to protect citizens of the Russian Federation abroad from armed attack on them;

… to maintain the nuclear deterrence potential at the required level of readiness.”

Note the references that underscore Russia’s willingness to use nuclear weapons as well as Moscow’s self-anointed mandate to defend Russians wherever they live that is akin to Hitler’s Volksdeutsche policy that launched World War II.

The new document, according to Ukrainian news sources as well as the copy in my possession, actually buries the principle of “counter-response,” which Moscow has had as its main principle since Soviet times. According to the “Basics of The State Policy of Nuclear Deterrence,” Russia can launch nuclear missiles without a direct threat of a strike on its territory – if the enemy’s anticipated attack could have a critical impact on the state or military facilities.

The document does not explain the term “impact” though it probably means in the event that a military facility or Russia is under imminent danger of being invaded and destroyed. Inasmuch as Russia acts without provocation or warning, Moscow can also reply to threats in the same manner.

In addition, the list of conditions for retaliation is evolving. While earlier versions spoke about the “use” of nuclear or other weapons of mass destruction by the enemy, now nuclear missiles can be launched after “receiving credible information about the launch of ballistic missiles” in the direction of Russia. In other words, Russia can retaliate while the missiles are en route. Remember the 1964 move “Fail Safe,” in which a computer glitch brought the world to the brink of a nuclear war?

The document states that Russia has the right to use nuclear weapons in response to others’ launching of nuclear or other WMD rockets against it or its allies. Furthermore – and this is essentially the game changer for Moscow – Russia can respond with nuclear weapons against a conventional armed attack against its territory.

Imagine a realistic scenario from today’s events. If Ukraine, which is a non-nuclear country, was to launch a retaliatory attack into Russia, which has been fighting against Ukraine since its invasion in 2014, then the Kremlin could reply with a nuclear attack and say in its own defense “I warned you.”

Russia can launch nuclear strikes in response to an attack against its “allies,” according to the doctrine, which only lists Belarus as the only one. An attack by nuclear or other weapons of mass destruction may be considered a condition for the nuclear strike.

According to the doctrine, Russia can target countries which either have or do not have nuclear weapons if they consider Russia as a potential adversary or are part of an opposing military bloc that has “significant combat capabilities of the general forces.” This means that countries or blocs such as NATO that criticize, condemn or sanction Russia can be targeted for destruction.

The only person authorized to decide whether or not to use nuclear weapons, according to the “Basics of State Policy,” is the president. Yes, Putin and presidents of other nuclear countries enjoy that prerogative. As of today, the nuclear club includes the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan and North Korea. Furthermore, this document says that President Putin may – not must – inform the targeted country and the international community of an impending nuclear attack.

Moscow considers the build-up of nuclear forces “in neighboring territories” and the deployment of missile defense systems, cruise missiles, drones, hypersonic weapons in countries opposed to Russia as an enemy provocation and potential threat.

Among the perceived threats is the deployment of missile defense and strike systems in space – perhaps like the United States Space Force, the “uncontrolled proliferation” of nuclear weapons and their appearance in the territory of previously non-nuclear countries.

Russia, the doctrine somewhat facetiously states, views nuclear weapons “exclusively as a deterrent which is to be used in extreme and forced circumstances” and “makes all necessary efforts” to prevent military conflicts, including nuclear ones. This implies that all-powerful Russia, armed with nuclear weapons, is the only global peacekeeper.

At the same time, “guaranteed deterrence of a potential adversary from aggression against Russia and/or its allies is among the highest state priorities” and “is provided by the entire body of military power, including nuclear weapons,” the document emphasizes.

Additionally, Putin said today, according to Reuters, that Russia will soon be in a position to counter hypersonic arms deployed by other countries, adding that Moscow was ahead of the United States in developing new types of weapons. Hypersonic glide vehicles can steer an unpredictable course and maneuver sharply as they approach impact. They also follow a much flatter and lower trajectory than ballistic missiles.

 “It’s very likely that we will have means to combat hypersonic weapons by the time the world’s leading countries have such weapons,” Putin was quoted as saying by the RIA news agency.

Russia is a signatory to the UN Charter and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and is regarded by naïve global leaders as a levelheaded country with sensible leaders. But global affairs have been known to spawn odd conclusions. This decree on nuclear deterrence as well as its earlier ones paint a dangerous image of Russia, one that is not known on any Main Street in the USA or Pennsylvania Avenue. Moscow is suffering from a credibility gap that no one wants to address. What Russia says and does globally compared with its war against Ukraine are as different as day and night. Moscow is a genuine nuclear threat that should be dealt with on the same level as Nazi Germany and Islamic terrorist organizations.

The White House should take note of this declaration and its obvious threat to freedom-loving countries around the world.