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Putin Updates Russia's Nuclear Doctrine, Includes Belarus Amid Rising Threats

Sep 25, 2024, 04:57 PM

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced significant updates to Russia's nuclear doctrine during a meeting of the Russian Security Council on nuclear deterrence on Wednesday. The updated doctrine proposes that any aggression against Russia by a non-nuclear state, if supported by a nuclear state, will be considered a joint attack on Russia. Putin emphasized that Russia reserves the right to use nuclear weapons in the event of aggression against Russia or Belarus, including if the enemy poses a critical threat to their sovereignty with conventional weapons. He also mentioned that Russia would consider using nuclear weapons if it receives reliable information about the start of a mass cross-border attack by air from strategic and tactical aviation, cruise missiles, drones, and hypersonic weapons. The changes reflect the dynamically changing military-political situation and the emergence of new sources of military threats and risks for Russia and its allies. Belarus is included in the nuclear doctrine as part of the Union State.