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Putin Proposes Nuclear Doctrine Updates Including Belarus on Wednesday

Sep 25, 2024, 05:10 PM

Russian President Vladimir Putin chaired a meeting of the Russian Security Council on Wednesday, focusing on nuclear deterrence. During the meeting, Putin proposed significant updates to Russia's nuclear doctrine, citing the dynamically changing global military-political situation. Key changes include considering aggression against Russia by any non-nuclear state, with the participation or support of a nuclear state, as a joint attack on Russia. Additionally, Putin emphasized that Russia reserves the right to use nuclear weapons in case of aggression against Russia or Belarus, including if the enemy poses a critical threat to sovereignty with conventional weapons. The updated doctrine also includes provisions for a nuclear response to a mass cross-border attack by air from strategic and tactical aviation, cruise missiles, drones, and hypersonic weapons. Belarus is proposed to be included in the nuclear doctrine, which could have significant implications for regional security and diplomatic relations.