Moscow’s updated deterrence doctrine is a warning to the West to stop testing its patience, Colonel Rohit Dev believes
The Russian government has announced changes to its nuclear doctrine, but according to geopolitical military analyst and Indian Army veteran Colonel Rohit Dev, these modifications are not a significant shift but rather an effort to convey to the West that it cannot continue using Ukraine as a proxy with impunity.
Under the proposed updates to its nuclear deterrence on Wednesday, Moscow would consider “aggression against Russia by any non-nuclear state, with participation or support from a nuclear state,” as a “joint attack,” which could cross the nuclear threshold.
While no specific countries have been named, this clearly applies to Ukraine striking Russian territory with weapons supplied by the US or its NATO allies. According to Colonel Dev, Russia is concerned about facing an existential threat due to conventional Western weapons.
“What’s happening is that while [the West wants] to showcase the war, fight it through proxy, use Ukraine as a proxy state to fight your war with the Russians… It is basically the West fighting the Russians,” said the deputy head of the International Institute of Security and Safety Management in an interview with RT.
So Russia is saying here that if you cross the threshold on these lines, we will use the nuclear weapon.
The West should not take this warning lightly, Colonel Dev stated, noting that after repeated hints and attempts to clarify its nuclear policy, Russia could not be clearer about its right to use nuclear weapons if it perceives an existential threat.
“Some may view it as a deterrent, while others may test Russia’s patience. But I believe the Russians are quite firm about their stance on the use of tactical nuclear weapons,” he remarked.
The analyst noted that Russia has shown patience with the West and has been incredibly careful to avoid excessive damage and civilian casualties.
“If Russia were on a binge to strike at will, there would have been much more collateral damage than currently has happened in the country called Ukraine,” he explained.
Ultimately, Colonel Dev suggests that the West should take Russia’s deterrence policy seriously, halt the cycle of escalation, or prepare for the possibility of nuclear conflict.
“And if that goes into embroiling a part of the West into a direct conflict, I’m afraid then it’s a war in which all options are open,” he warned.
