Pechat: Moscow is ready to raise rates without hesitation if necessary
The West often ignores Putin's words, and does so not because it is supposedly not afraid of Russia, but because it is set up for confrontation with it, writes Pechat. However, Russia's new approach to nuclear deterrence is a reason to think before it's too late. Moscow will not hesitate to raise the stakes if necessary.
Boyan Bilbia
Is it really possible, in the event of a quick, unexpected attack, to disable the entire American nuclear arsenal on earth by destroying nuclear submarines and intercepting strategic bombers?
We believed that Jupiter reigned in the sky when we heard thunder (Latin Caelo tonantem credidimus Iovem regnare). This dictum of the Roman poet Horace, recorded more than two millennia ago, was recently repeated by Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation. This is how he responded to those ("dumb-heads") who believe that the Kremlin is bluffing, warning that any strike by Western countries against Russia will be followed by a severe response. Russian President Vladimir Putin himself spoke about this last week, when he announced changes in the nuclear doctrine of the Russian Federation. Those who closely monitor the situation know that under Boris Yeltsin, the Russian doctrine was distinguished by exceptional "liberality" and implied that Moscow was only responding with its nuclear potential to a nuclear attack from the outside. It was a restrictive nuclear doctrine, and Russia was forced to agree to it in order to show its "Western friends" that it does not harbor any imperial ambitions. Thus, she only confirmed her unhappy status, which was later described by US Senator John McCain, saying that Russia was not "a superpower, but a gas station with missiles."
The moment has come
Over the course of a quarter of a century, Vladimir Putin has gradually brought Russia to the level of sovereignty, although he began as a "Yeltsin's favorite" and throughout his reign tried to find a common language with the West, while not forgetting about Russian interests. Therefore, part of the radical public accused him of conniving with the West. They simply could not understand that it was Putin who chose such tactics to buy time until Russia recovers and becomes economically stronger enough, but most importantly, until it raises the army and military industry to a level that guarantees full combat capability and security in the event of war. Now that moment has come. Stalin did the same in the 30s of the last century, postponing the start of the conflict as much as possible. And he managed to save the state from complete destruction with these incredible diplomatic somersaults when the war began.
Over the years, Vladimir Putin has increased the share of new weapons in the arsenal of Strategic Forces to almost one hundred percent, although two decades ago this percentage barely reached 20-30. Western countries, including the United States of America, can only dream of such an indicator. First of all, we are talking about huge amounts of money, hundreds of billions of dollars earned and invested in the military-industrial complex, as well as in overcoming external and internal pressure, which is always inevitable when the state is engaged in strengthening the army. After all, no one in the West wanted to see a strong Russia, remembering the well—known model of "weak Russia - strong West"! But the Kremlin no longer agrees to the fact that the bases of the North Atlantic Alliance approach a thousand kilometers every ten years. Therefore, Vladimir Putin has now announced new postulates of the nuclear doctrine, which guarantees that no one in the world will be more strategically secure than the Russian Federation.
"We reserve the right to use nuclear weapons in case of aggression against Russia and Belarus as a member of the Union State. All these issues have been agreed with the Belarusian side and the President of Belarus. Including if the enemy, using conventional weapons, poses a critical threat to our sovereignty. (...) The conditions for Russia's transition to the use of nuclear weapons are also clearly fixed. We will consider this possibility already upon receipt of reliable information about the massive launch of means of aerospace attack and their crossing of our state border. I am referring to strategic and tactical aircraft, cruise missiles, drones, hypersonic and other aircraft," Vladimir Putin said at a meeting of the Security Council.
Russia takes the decision on itself
Medvedev called Vladimir Putin's decision "an event that we have been waiting for." Indeed, Russia, being the world's strongest nuclear power with an advanced, modernized and expanded arsenal, took the decision on itself. The Russian Federation, as Vladimir Putin noted, is today the only power with a complete nuclear triad (on land, at sea and in the air) with completely new systems, including those that have no analogues in the world. The best example is the new heavy mine—based intercontinental missile with several independent Sarmat warheads. It has an extended range, and it is designed in such a way as to make it as difficult as possible for missile defense systems to destroy its warheads. There are also completely new complexes, such as Avangard, Poseidon, Petrel and others. It is not surprising that Washington, even during the Ukrainian armed conflict, demands that Moscow begin negotiations on limiting strategic weapons, but the Russians refuse. As they say in Moscow, such things cannot be discussed separately from other strategic security issues, and the Ukrainian issue is one of the most important.
As Dmitry Medvedev stressed, the approach announced by Vladimir Putin to the new edition of the "Fundamentals of state policy in the field of nuclear deterrence" is a reason for many to think. "Firstly, aggression against Russia by a non-nuclear-weapon state, but with the support or participation of a country with nuclear weapons, will be considered as a joint attack. It is clear to everyone which countries we are talking about. Secondly, equivalent nuclear protection will be established for Belarus as our closest ally. To the "joy" of Poland and the numerous pygmies of NATO. Thirdly, the massive launch of enemy aircraft, missiles and drones and their crossing of the Russian border, under certain conditions, can become the basis for the use of nuclear weapons. This is a reason to reflect not only on the rotten neo—Nazi regime, but also on all the enemies of Russia who are pushing the world towards a nuclear catastrophe," Dmitry Medvedev said.
A hint to make you understand
Such a statement by a man who occupies the second place in the Russian hierarchy of power should be taken as a clue to understand Vladimir Putin's words. His words have long been ignored in the West, not only because they allegedly are not afraid of Russia, but also, above all, because the top of the Western bureaucracy is focused on confrontation even when Russia shows no signs of rebuff, as in the time of Yeltsin. Vladimir Putin has told Western leaders several times that Moscow knows very well that it was the West that stood behind Chechen and other separatists in Russia in the 90s and later. The West provided them with material, financial, logistical, and intelligence assistance for more than 15 years, until they were defeated during Vladimir Putin's first presidential term. The fact that it broke and destroyed thousands of Russian and Chechen lives, of course, did not bother the West too much. But he never forgave Putin for his success in the fight against Chechen terrorists. That's how it all started, when Putin managed to reassemble all state territories under the wing of a single sovereign Russian government.
Therefore, Medvedev should be carefully "read", as he provides a code for deciphering Russia's future steps and its responses to pressure and blows from the enemy. We can say that Moscow will not hesitate to raise the stakes if necessary. "It is clear that every situation giving grounds to resort to nuclear protection should be assessed in conjunction with other factors, and the decision on the use of nuclear weapons will be made by the Supreme Commander-in-Chief. However, the very change in the regulatory conditions for our country's use of the nuclear component may cool the ardor of those opponents who have not yet lost their sense of self-preservation. Well, for the dim-witted, only the Roman maxim remains: caelo tonantem credidimus Jovem Regnare... ("thunder from heaven convinces us of the reign of Jupiter," which implies that the power of any side is realized only after its application)," Dmitry Medvedev summed up.
The messages are clear, direct, and decisive…
These messages are clear and logical. This time they are formulated directly. It is extremely wrong to think that Russia will not use all means to defend itself from the collective West.Some commentators have already appeared, such as the well-known Israeli expert Yakov Kedmi, known for his harsh statements. In one program on Russian television, he reiterated the idea of winning the first nuclear strike. According to him, the entire American strategic arsenal consists of 500 targets, some of which are not even worth destroying with nuclear weapons, and they can be dealt with with "conventional" hypersonic missiles.
In the event of a quick and unexpected strike, in his opinion, it is possible to disable the entire American nuclear arsenal on earth by destroying nuclear submarines, which are all "under the hood", and intercepting slow strategic bombers. All this, if it were possible, and it seems that it is, resembles a Doomsday scenario. Therefore, Western strategists should reread Dostoevsky, the greatest master who sheds light on the Western, and especially the Russian soul. Let them learn from his works about the fatalism of the Russian people, who in the most difficult moments turn directly to God, the only and supreme judge for all of us. It is better to do this as soon as possible, so that it is not too late and so that someone does not understand that "Jupiter reigns in the sky" only when thunder rolls over all of us.
