The Impact of Russia’s Revised Nuclear Doctrine: A Perspective from Belarus

Photo: AFP
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, a staunch supporter of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has publicly endorsed Russia’s recently declared adjustments to its nuclear weapons policy. According to Lukashenko, these adjustments were long overdue and essential to countering Western threats. His comments highlight the geopolitical conflicts that still affect the dynamics of international security. President Putin declared on September 25 that the range of situations in which Russia may contemplate using nuclear weapons had been significantly expanded. The potential use of nuclear weapons is now part of this updated doctrine in the event that Russia gets solid intelligence regarding a large-scale cross-border attack employing aircraft, missiles, or drones. Putin also made it plain that Moscow would consider any nuclear assault on it to be a coordinated nuclear power attack, suggesting a collective defense approach.















