New Russian Defense Doctrine
New Russian Defense Doctrine
January 14, 2000
New Russia Defense Doctrine Lowers Atomic Threshold
By REUTERS
MOSCOW -- Russia published a revamped national security concept Friday that makes clear Moscow has lowered the threshold for using nuclear weapons to counter what it sees as a growing
military threat.
Under the previous concept published in 1997, Russia reserved the right to use its nuclear arsenal, the world's second largest, only if its very existence were threatened. The new version, approved by Acting President Vladimir Putin on January 6, now envisages the potential use of atomic weapons "to repel armed aggression," a much less specific term.
Few details were made available when the concept was approved.
"A completely new document
has been produced," the weekly
military newspaper
Nezavisimoye Voyennoye
Obrozreniye said in a
commentary. "Threats to Russia
have been reassessed."
The Kremlin's Security Council,
which compiled the 21-page
document, made a copy
available to Reuters Friday.
The concept vividly reflects
Russia's more antagonistic view
of the world. But it also
recognizes the economy is in
tatters, conventional forces are in
disarray and the nuclear
deterrent is one of the few tools
left.
"The level and scale of threats in
the military sphere is growing,"
says the document, intended to
set out Russia's vital interests and
establish priorities to protect
them.
The stagnant economy,
endangered environment, weak
military and the gulf between rich
and poor all figure prominently. There is greater emphasis on fighting
terrorism and organized crime and more attention to computers and
political extremism.
But it is Moscow's view of outside threats and how to deal with them that
catches the eye.
The document -- divided into four sections covering Russia's place in the
world, national interests, threats and ways to counter them -- says Russia
remained important but "a number of states" were trying to weaken and
marginalize it.
It lists the main foreign threats as NATO's eastward enlargement and
own new strategy, the possibility of military bases bordering Russia, a
weaker role for the United Nations and a lack of integration among
former Soviet states. Some states were playing on Russia's reduced
circumstances, it said.
"Other states threaten Russian national security by attempting to oppose
the strengthening of Russia as a center of influence in a multipolar world,
impeding efforts to protect its national interests and weakening its role in
Europe, the Middle East, Transcaucasus, Central Asia and the
Asia-Pacific."
The document said there were two main, opposing trends in world
affairs. Moscow's favored option was for a "multi-polar" world with a
range of regional powers. The other trend, it said, was for a "unipolar"
world dominated by the United States.
Moscow's main security task was to deter any attacks, nuclear or
conventional, against Russia and its allies, it says.
"The Russian Federation considers it possible to use military force to
guarantee its national security according to the following principles:
"The use of all forces and equipment at its disposal, including nuclear
weapons, if it has to repel armed aggression if all other means of
resolving the crisis have been exhausted or proved ineffective."
The other principle stated under the new concept is the use of force to
quell internal unrest, a hint at Russia's preoccupation with keeping its vast
federation of 89 regions intact. Russia is now engaged in a protracted
campaign against separatists in Chechnya.
Security Council secretary Sergei Ivanov said earlier this week that Putin
was likely to approve a complementary and more narrowly defined
military doctrine by mid-February.
The first deputy chief of general staff, Valery Manilov, told Russian news
agencies Friday the doctrine would reflect the concept's position on using
nuclear weapons.
He said Russia had the right to repel aggressors using nuclear weapons if
conventional forces were insufficient but that Moscow would never use
such arms against nonaggression.
The broader security document said Russia could guarantee its strategic
interests only if its economy was in good shape. It said Russia should
have a "socially oriented market economy."
"Russia's national interests in this sphere are crucial," it said. The
economy has been mired since a 1998 financial crisis.
January 14, 2000
Highlights of Russia's Security Declaration
Related Article
New Russia Defense Doctrine Lowers Atomic Threshold
By REUTERS
USSIA IN THE WORLD COMMUNITY
There are two main trends in world affairs: a multi-polar world of regional
powers which Russia favors and a unipolar world surrounding the United
States and its allies.
Russia remains influential despite its difficulties.
Russia wants to integrate further into the world economy.
It has common cause with many countries on non-proliferation, regional
conflict-solving, terrorism, the drug trade and the environment.
But some countries are trying to weaken Russia's position and ignore it.
To do so could destabilize the international situation.
RUSSIA'S NATIONAL INTERESTS
The economy is a key element.
On the domestic front, the main interests are in maintaining constitutional
order, deepening democracy and rooting out extremism.
It is vital for Russia to have good ties with the other 11 former Soviet
republics in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS).
Further afield, the aim is to guarantee Russia's sovereignty and ensure the
country remains a great power.
THREATS TO NATIONAL SECURITY OF THE RUSSIAN
FEDERATION
In the economic sphere, the main threats are a lack of innovation and
investment, a stagnating agricultural sector, an imbalance in the banking
system, foreign and domestic debt burdens and the contrast of raw
materials exports with imports of finished goods.
Russia is in danger of losing a leading role in scientific research.
Domestic political threats include: separatist tendencies, tensions between
Moscow and the regions, political extremism and laws unequally applied.
Organized crime and corruption are major threats, as are a lack of
adequate funding for the police, the gulf between rich and poor, and
alcohol and drug abuse.
On the international scene, the main threats are a reduced role for the
United Nations, a weakened role for Russia, NATO enlargement,
NATO operating beyond its members' borders, possible foreign bases
near Russia, weapons proliferation, claims on Russian territory, poor CIS
integration, terrorism, information policy, ecological problems and
transnational crime.
GUARANTEEING NATIONAL SECURITY OF THE RUSSIAN
FEDERATION
The main tasks are to spot threats, guarantee Russia's sovereignty and
integrity, ensure the economy is socially oriented, reduce reliance on
foreign technology and improve the balance between Moscow and the
regions.
They also include the need to guarantee equal and mutually beneficial
cooperation with the world's leading nations, increase and maintain
Russia's military potential, minimize foreign espionage and radically
improve the environment.
On the economy, the aim is to reduce foreign debt and strengthen the
role of the state but to encourage investment and initiative. Competition is
to be encouraged in all appropriate areas. Northern Russia needs
particular help.
On internal affairs, the aims are to step up the battle against organized
crime and corruption, ensure there is a clear vertical chain of command
across the country, guarantee the rights of the individual and improve
health care.
For foreign policy the priorities are to simplify the multilateral nature of
relations particularly through the U.N. Security Council, develop relations
with the CIS, defend citizens abroad, participate in international
organizations, take part in peacekeeping, help control nuclear weapons
and adapt existing treaties to new circumstances.
In the military sphere, Russia needs to be equipped to respond
adequately to any threats that may emerge in the 21st century. The main
aim is to deter aggression.
Russia has the right to use all available means, including nuclear weapons,
to repel aggressors.
The Security Council has an umbrella function to monitor the security
forces and advise the president on threats.
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