Military doctrine signed by President Putin raises possibility of broader use of weapons to deter foreign aggression.
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| Russia's relations with the West and NATO worsened after it annexed Crimea [Reuters] |
A new military doctrine signed by President Vladimir Putin identified
NATO as Russia's number one military threat and raised the possibility
of a broader use ......
of precision conventional weapons to deter foreign
aggression.
The new doctrine was signed on Friday, and it maintains the
provisions of the 2010 edition of the military doctrine regarding the
use of nuclear weapons.
The doctrine, which came amid tensions over Ukraine, reflected
the Kremlin's readiness to take a stronger posture in response to what
it sees as US-led efforts to isolate and weaken Russia.
Russia's relations with the West have plummeted to their lowest
level since Cold War times, and NATO cut off ties to Moscow after it
annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in March.
The doctrine says Russia could employ nuclear weapons in retaliation
for the use of nuclear or other weapons of mass destruction against the
country or its allies, and also in the case of aggression involving
conventional weapons that "threatens the very existence'' of the Russian
state.
For the first time, the new doctrine says Russia could use precision
weapons "as part of strategic deterrent measures", the Associated Press
reported.
Examples of precision conventional weapons include
ground-to-ground missiles, air- and submarine-launched cruise missiles,
guided bombs and artillery shells.
The document does not spell out when and how Moscow could resort to such weapons.
NATO 'poses no threat'
The doctrine places "a build-up of NATO military potential and
its empowerment with global functions implemented in violation of
international law, the expansion of NATO's military infrastructure to
the Russian borders'' atop the list of military threats to Russia.
NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu responded by saying in a statement
that the alliance "poses no threat to Russia or to any nation".
"Any steps taken by NATO to ensure the security of its members are
clearly defensive in nature, proportionate and in compliance
with international law.
"In fact, it is Russia's actions, including currently in Ukraine,
which are breaking international law and undermining European security,"
she said.
The doctrine also mentions the need to protect Russia's interest in the Arctic, where the global competition for its vast oil and other resources has been heating up as the Arctic ice melts.