Putin Approves Updated Nuclear Doctrine Amid Rising Tensions with the West

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday approved significant updates to Russia’s nuclear doctrine, signalling a potential escalation in its defensive posture. The revised policy allows for the use of nuclear weapons if Russia is subjected to a conventional missile attack supported by a nuclear power. 

The change comes as a direct response to reports that the administration of US President Joe Biden may permit Ukraine to use American long-range missiles for strikes deep into Russian territory. 

The revised doctrine identifies attacks using conventional missiles, drones, or aircraft as potential triggers for a nuclear response. Additionally, it states that aggression against Russia by a member of a coalition would be interpreted as an attack by the entire coalition, broadening the criteria under which Moscow could justify deploying nuclear weapons. 

Just weeks ahead of the US presidential elections, Putin’s order explicitly ties the doctrine to situations where conventional attacks on Russia are backed by nuclear powers. 

The ongoing war in Ukraine, now in its third year, has significantly strained relations between Russia and Western nations. Many analysts compare the current confrontation to the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, the closest the world has come to nuclear conflict during the Cold War.  

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