(DailyDig.com) – Vladimir Putin, Russia’s President, has completed his recent meetings with the leaders of Vietnam and North Korea. He and both countries have signed defensive agreements that include some possible changes in Russia’s deterrence policy with respect to nuclear weapons.
In the past, Putin has warned the West about arming Ukraine and expanding NATO into countries that border Russia. At his press conference on June 20, he discussed the geopolitical threat of arming Ukraine, which could potentially endanger Russia. The very thing he warned the West to avoid has caused Russia to consider its nuclear alternatives.
NATO and Russia have been at odds over the encroachment that has moved closer to Russia and is perceived as threatening. Russia asserts that they will only use nuclear weapons if their territory is in danger. This concept is similar to that of other countries with nuclear weapons. Putin issued a press release stating the possibility of a change to their deterrence policy for nuclear weapons.
Putin explained that the change has been debated among their military due to global discussions of a possible relaxation of the point where countries would consider using nuclear weapons. He also reassured that Russia does not expect that they will ever be the first to preemptively strike using nuclear weapons.
When Putin returned from the Asian trip, he met with military university graduates to discuss a stronger nuclear triad. This triad would involve the deployment of nuclear weapons on bomber aircraft, ballistic missiles launched from submarines, and intercontinental missiles. He said that the powerful nuclear triad will act as a deterrent to keep the balance of the world’s power in check, as the nations of the US, India, and China have.
World leaders have become nervous, according to the news media, as the pacts Putin signed with North Korea are based on South Korea shipping weapons to Ukraine. Putin warned that nations supplying Ukraine with weapons would be a mistake, as Russia may respond in kind by supplying weapons to those nations’ enemies.
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