When will Putin resort to using nuclear weapons? .. French newspaper answers

The French newspaper "Le Parisien" tried to answer a question that has become increasingly common at the present time, when will Russian President Vladimir Putin resort to the use of nuclear weapons?

The newspaper presented an analysis in which it reviewed what the Russian military doctrine stipulates in this regard, following a statement by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov in response to a question by CNN last Tuesday about the possibility of Moscow using nuclear weapons if there is an “existential threat.” Russia has an internal security doctrine, which is public, and anyone can see it."

The doctrine referred to by Peskov is found in a document relating to the Russian Doctrine of Internal Security and Article 27 of this document states that “Russia will use atomic weapons in response to an opponent’s use of nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction against Russia and/or against one of its allies, as well as in the event of an aggression the Russian Federation with conventional weapons when the very existence of the state is threatened.”

As for Article 19, it defines the threats that call for a Russian nuclear response as follows:

1- Reliable information about the launch of a ballistic missile against Russia and/or its allies.

2- The adversary's use of nuclear weapons or weapons of mass destruction against the territory of Russia and/or the territory of an Allied.

3- Aggressive action against critical infrastructure (military or civilian) could undermine Russia's ability to carry out a second strike.

4- An attack on Russia with conventional weapons is likely to raise questions about the very existence of the state.

The newspaper quoted the French-Russian Observatory for Studies as saying that he believed that what was stated in this document “contributes to increasing the intensity of the uncertainty about the use of nuclear weapons more than it dispels it.” In the first case, for example, the text does not specify the nature of the circumstances considered by the Kremlin sufficient to convince it that the enemy About to launch a ballistic missile against Russia, according to "reliable" information.

The French Observatory report notes that “of these four cases, three refer to hostile acts carried out against Russia (and/or its allies) that do not necessarily involve the use of nuclear weapons,” which in other words means that Moscow retains the initiative to carry out an atomic strike first. .

General Dominique Trincoin, former head of the French military mission to the United Nations, comments that "the Russian nuclear doctrine is a doctrine for use, unlike the French strategy, which is only for deterrence."

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