Russian military 'lose argument' for pre-emptive nuclear doctrine
The privately owned Russian military news agency Interfax-AVN reported on 10 December that there will be no provision for pre-emptive nuclear strikes in Russia’s updated military doctrine. However, the same source did reveal that the Russian military had made “very insistent” representations for the new doctrine to include such a provision.
The news agency quotes ‘a source familiar with the document’ as saying: “The updated version of the military doctrine will not have a provision for a possible pre-emptive nuclear strike against a potential enemy. Article 18 of the document clearly defines conditions for the use of strategic weapons the Russian nuclear triad is equipped with. That will become possible if Russia’s sovereignty and territorial integrity are threatened with destruction.”
The source added: “The military were very insistent about including the provision for pre-emptive nuclear strikes. In the final edition of the document there is no such provision, which, I think, is right. The provision of Article 18 is comprehensive and accurate. If the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country are really threatened, then Russia will take on responsibility and, as a last resort, use nuclear weapons to ensure its security.”
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