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Posted 22 Nov 2024

2 min read

Russia updates its 2020 ND, reaffirming nuclear weapons' role in deterring enemies and defining potential use scenarios.

  • Nuclear Doctrine: It defines the purpose, development, and deployment of nuclear weapons, as well as their intended use.

Russia's Revised Nuclear Doctrine (ND)

  • Expanded definition of nuclear attack:  Any aggression against Russia by a non-nuclear state, supported by a nuclear state, is treated as a joint attack, justifying nuclear retaliation.
    • It explicitly targets countries allowing their territories to be used for aggression against Russia.
  • Lowering nuclear response threshold: Russian ND expanded from defending state's existence to protecting sovereignty and territorial integrity. 
    • Belarus formally placed under Russia’s nuclear umbrella. 
  • New risks triggering potential nuclear response include: Expansion of military coalitions & Large-scale military exercises near Russian borders; Positioning of enemy military infrastructure closer to Russian borders.

Potential Impact of Russia’s revised ND

  • Increased Nuclear escalation: The revised ND increases the chance of using Tactical Nuclear warfare.
  • Weakening the Non-Proliferation Regime: The revised doctrine may enhance difficulty in persuading states to abandon nuclear weapons programs.
  • Increasing distrust: Russia's lowered nuclear threshold and expanded definition of "extreme circumstances" could exacerbate distrust between Russia and the US.

India's nuclear doctrine (2003):

  • No First Use: India will not use nuclear weapons first.  
  • Credible Minimum Deterrence: India will maintain a minimum nuclear arsenal to deter potential aggressors.  
  • Massive Retaliation: In the event of a nuclear attack, India will retaliate with a massive nuclear strike.  
  • Civilian Control: The civilian leadership, through the Nuclear Command Authority (NCA), has ultimate authority over nuclear weapons.  
  • Non-use Against Non-Nuclear States: India will not use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear states.
  • Tags :
  • Nuclear Deterrence
  • No First Use
  • Nuclear escalation
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