RED LINES CROSSED, RUSSIA CHANGES NUCLEAR DOCTRINE
As ATACMS slammed into Russian ammo depots finally crossing the latest of Putin’s red lines, the US said it had seen no signs Russia was readying nuclear weapons for battlefield use. And it won’t.
The nuclear posturing is all about reflexive response, a strategy established by the KGB in the 1960’s. This is designed to illicit a response from politicians and the public to oppose the move made by their governments.
The problem for Putin and his nuclear sabre rattling jester Medvedev, is they have said it so often and so loudly that it’s no longer any more than words. But even though they know that, they still say it because it might still raise fears.
The fact that Putin’s response was to change the Russian Nuclear Doctrine, signing it as a response to the long range missile strikes, emphasises the hollow nature of his words.
However what the reality of that change means is quite significant in the history of nuclear weapons use planning. It no more means they will be used today than they were yesterday, let’s be clear about that. It’s only saying that if Russia chooses to, it could use nuclear weapons under a set of circumstances it had not previously clarified. This is Russia trying to deter a specific set of circumstances from affecting it so that it doesn’t happen, but even if it did occur and technically we’re already there, it doesn’t automatically mean the use of nuclear weapons.
Putin classified a nuclear power assisting a non-nuclear power in conventional attacks against Russia, as an attack by that nuclear power on Russia. As a threshold at which Russia could give itself the right to use nuclear weapons it’s novel. It’s also meaningless as any nuclear power can change its position on use as and when it sees fit and use them when it likes, if it felt the need. Just putting it down on paper and making it public means nothing.
It’s about deterrence. It’s increasing the risk for Russian opponents. But it hasn’t worked or been challenged because Putin wasn’t stupid enough to box himself in. Rather than test his resolve he signed the document afterthe ATACMS strikes happened so that the doctrine was only valid in the future, not the present.
Russian security isn’t threatened at an existential level by these attacks anymore than a drone strike. It was just about trying to slow down use for the longest possible period of time. In that Putin was unquestionably successful. It proves that the Biden-Sullivan beliefs on escalation were founded on fear and not critical thinking or logic, or apparently any real comprehension of Putin’s mind and how he operates.
Putin isn’t ready for or willing to accept, the chaos that would be unleashed on the international stage if he used even one tiny nuke. China would be apoplectic over it and non-critical allies like India, Brazil and Turkey for starters would walk away. Russia would become a pariah and his only ally the Kim of the North.
And then would come the military response. So no, Putin doesn’t plan nuclear weapons use in Ukraine.
So what will he do? Cable cutting and sabotage is his preferred way of doing things. Expect more of it. Undoubtedly I suspect, a major missile strike on Ukraine will almost certainly be the immediate reaction.
Russia is always hiding behind its nuclear weapons. It’s a solid fact that if Russia wasn’t a nuclear power this war would have been over and the west would have done far more directly. Russia’s army post war is going to be a mess, requiring major reform and re-equipment. It’ll be next to impotent until it refocuses. Reliance on nuclear weapons will be even more necessary.
Putin’s reflexive response psychological warfare has worn thin. It’s biggest victory was over Olaf Sholz, but he’s on his way out and not before time. I feel the age of Putin’s psychological impact has started to wane. It will however manifest in vindictive actions against the Ukrainian people in the form of more missile attacks.
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The Analyst
Slava Ukraine!