Putin's nuclear doctrine shift aims to deter Western support for Ukraine
Vladimir Putin announces another change to the nuclear doctrine. No one doubts that this is an attempt to block the US from consenting to Ukraine's use of Western missiles to strike targets in Russia. Russia is a true nuclear power—it has over 4,300 nuclear warheads. However, this is just under half of what is in arsenals worldwide, which continues to grow.
Many pieces of information provided by Russian media or government representatives are elements of propaganda. These reports are part of the Russian Federation's information war.
On Wednesday, China reported that it conducted an intercontinental ballistic missile test, launching it toward the Pacific Ocean. It was the first maneuver of this type in decades.
This country, according to calculations by the Federation of American Scientists (FAS), possesses 500 nuclear warheads ready for use. However, Beijing has recently increased spending on defense and nuclear weapons development. It is estimated that by 2030, it will have 1,000 nuclear missiles.
Russia still first in the ranking
This does not change the fact that it will still be "only" the third nuclear power in the world. Russia, which currently has 4,380 nuclear warheads, still holds first place in this ranking.
Vladimir Putin, as the leader of a nuclear power, has lately been increasingly using nuclear weapons as a scare tactic against the West. He is trying to deter the West from providing aid to Ukraine.
In recent days, when reports emerged that the US might change its mind and allow the use of Western missiles to attack targets in Russia, Moscow once again began threatening to use nuclear weapons. On Wednesday, during a meeting of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, Putin directly announced the need for another change to the nuclear doctrine.
Putin continues to threaten
"It is proposed that aggression against Russia by any non-nuclear state, but with the participation or support of a nuclear state, be considered as their joint attack on the Russian Federation," Putin said.
According to Putin, the Kremlin could also consider using atomic weapons if it detected the start of mass missile launches, aircraft, or drone attacks on Russian territory. "We will consider such a possibility once we receive reliable information about a massive launch of air and space attack weapons and their crossing our state border," he warned.
He added that Moscow also reserves the right to use nuclear weapons if Russia or Belarus becomes the subject of aggression, including with conventional weapons.
On Thursday, European Commission spokesperson Peter Stano responded to Putin's proposals to change the Russian nuclear doctrine.
"This is just the continuation of the very irresponsible and unacceptable behavior on the side of Putin, who showed the whole world, especially during the week of the UN General Assembly, his true face, the one that does not limit itself to gambling with nuclear weapons over and over again," Stano said.
Over 9,500 ready-to-launch warheads
As the EC spokesperson emphasized, the EU firmly rejects these threats. He added that the Union also seeks to show other international partners how irresponsible and unpredictable the behavior is of a person representing a country that is a permanent member of the UN Security Council, whose—as Stano noted—personal commitment should be to maintain world peace.
Not only does Russia possess significant stocks of nuclear warheads. The second country in terms of nuclear weapon resources is the USA. It has 3,708 ready-to-launch warheads.
Other countries with nuclear weapons include France with 290 warheads, the United Kingdom with 225, India with 172, Pakistan with 170, Israel with 90, and North Korea with 50.
So, in the world, there are over 9,500 ready-to-launch nuclear warheads. Their number continues to grow.
Source: AFP, PAP, TASS
