At the beginning of June in Russia was published the foundations of state policy of the Russian Federation on nuclear deterrence. The document was first given publicity, it is now widely discussed in the West. That is, the Russian nuclear threat or the response to Putin’s new nuclear strategy trump? What was the need this document if on Russian nuclear policy, all points over “i” for a long time apart in the Military doctrine of the Russian Federation?
to Answer these questions “MK” asked the academician, in the past the first Deputy Minister of defense, the Secretary of the defence Council, the security Council Secretary Andrei KOKOSHIN.
— Approved by the President of Russia document on nuclear deterrence, I would call important to the development of the Military doctrine of the Russian Federation, adopted in December 2014. He konkretisiert doctrine. In her discussions on the role of nuclear deterrence are also present, but in the Fundamentals of state policy of the Russian Federation on the nuclear deterrence they are given in a much more expanded form.
for the First time made public the document rightly emphasizes the Central importance of nuclear deterrence as an essential element of ensuring the military security of our country.
at the same time retain their importance and position on strategic non-nuclear deterrence, which are also noted in our Military doctrine of 2014 and which has repeatedly said the chief of the General staff of the Russian Armed forces army General Valery Gerasimov.
In the US there are similar policy documents in this area?
— the number of American official documents of the administration of Donald trump, especially in the nuclear policy Review, the role of nuclear weapons presents, to put it mildly, more accentuated than in the previous US administration.
What do you mean? The fact that the U.S. is considering nuclear weapons as a means of achieving military and political objectives, and we — only as a deterrent.
— the Basics of the state policy on nuclear deterrence States that the Russian Federation “viewed nuclear weapons solely as a deterrent” and “taking the necessary efforts to reduce the nuclear threat.”
This is closely related to a deep understanding of the Russian top leadership, the military command of the catastrophic consequences of nuclear war, on which it said publicly.
Russia has proposed to adopt a statement on the prevention of nuclear war, that nuclear war cannot be won by anyone. Similar statements were made in the past Soviet and American leaders.
recently introduced the Basics there is also the theme of the importance of norms and principles of international law, the topic of treaties in the field of controlLa arms. It also says on the maintenance of forces and means of nuclear deterrence “at the level minimally sufficient to accomplish the tasks.”
— That is, we declare that the nuclear factor in our defensive policy is present only as a deterrent. But I understand that a nuclear shield defense capability and security of the country does not provide. Probably will have to thoroughly invest in the development of General purpose forces?
Yes, to invest resources in conventional arms, means of conducting warfare in cyberspace, in the information sphere. Especially to invest in high-tech tools appropriate to the highest scientific and technical level, in the provision of the relevant personnel.
Thus should be provided with optimal neutralization and responding to all potential threats, defense capacity, national security of Russia. While relevant at all times remains the setting of the highest state leadership of Russia not to allow himself to be drawn into the arms race.
— How do you assess the ratio of military and non-military measures in the implementation of effective policy of nuclear deterrence?
— it is Impossible not to pay attention that in this new document the state policy in the field of nuclear deterrence is represented as a set of military, military-technical measures, but also measures of political, diplomatic, informational, and United by a common plan.
One of the most important elements of the policy of containment is a regular demonstration of the inevitability of retaliation in case of aggression. This primarily refers to measures of a military order.
However, the efforts of diplomacy, in many cases with the participation of the military Department, the military professional must also achieved important results in ensuring reliable, credible deterrence without any destabilizing effects.
Diplomacy, among other things, to seek mutually acceptable exits from conflicts and crises, in order is not reached before unacceptably high levels of confrontation, escalation.
it is also very important media through which broadcast actions, interventions, doctrines of, associated with providing strategic policy of nuclear and non-nuclear deterrence.
In the agenda of relations between Russia and the United States is an issue about the extension of the start-3 Treaty, which expires on 5 February 2021. Is it possible to link the adoption of the framework state policy of the Russian Federation on nuclear deterrence with the consideration of this agreement?
— Russia has strongly advocated the extension of this very important contract, showing in this matter of constructivespine and consistency. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said about the American side.
unfortunately, due to administration of Donald trump the situation with arms control was, to put it mildly, more complicated and more dangerous. Recall, the US withdrawal from the Treaty on the elimination of intermediate and shorter-range missiles 1987. Washington’s critical assessment of even many US allies in NATO. We should not forget about the release of the property from trump multilateral nuclear deal on Iran — contrary to the position of Russia, China and several European allies of the United States.
— Believe that the US thus inflicted serious damage to the policies of almost all countries on non-proliferation of nuclear weapons…
— of Course. The recent release of the American administration of the Treaty on open skies is also clearly contrary to the objectives of ensuring international security and strategic stability. Moreover, the decision sparked strong criticism from many members of Congress and was not supported by other Western parties to the Treaty. This is especially strange when you consider that the adoption of this agreement at the time it was initiated by Washington.
the US is not limited only to out of various agreements, including the nuclear agreement. The Pentagon, for example, has initiated the deployment of nuclear warheads of low power on ballistic missile submarines “Trident II”. Whether such actions are destabilizing?
Immediately I can say that the actions of the US has caused quite a harsh criticism of many prominent American experts. Including former Ministers, retired generals, prominent scientists, some current senators and congressmen. There was even an attempt on the part of the house of representatives of the U.S. Congress, where the majority of the Democrats, crop provisions for the deployment of a “low power charge” for “Trident II”. But ultimately this attempt was blocked in the Senate, where majority Republicans.
is Destabilizing not only the deployment of such warheads for the “Trident II”, and promulgated the doctrines of the United States. These actions of the United States, as usual, based on the fact that Russia, they say, there is a considerable Arsenal of nonstrategic nuclear weapons. And no explanation of Russia on these issues, unfortunately, not taken into account.
Washington is always considered various contrived, artificial scenarios of military action, “NATO — Russia” or “USA — Russia” with the use of nuclear weapons, where the initiative of its applications without any serious justification is attributed to our country.
In the West, the emergence of the Foundations of state policy of the Russian Federation in the field of nuclear sderzhivanieI took not only with interest but also with some apprehension. This may be due to the fact that in recent years the state has done much to restore the strength of strategic deterrence, and our “partners” is appreciated?
In recent years, Russia has carried out large-scale modernization of its forces and means of nuclear deterrence. This applies to land, sea and air-based strategic nuclear forces. Recently, for example, the Russian Navy entered the underwater submarine “Prince Vladimir”.
the Significant achievements of the national defense science and industry in the development of technologies and means of overcoming any potential missile defense system. This applies in particular to winged hypersonic glide blocks “vanguard” heavy Intercontinental ballistic missiles “Sarmat”. Impressive missile capabilities and Intercontinental ballistic missile “Topol-M” and “YARS” ballistic missile submarines “Mace” cruise missiles, long-range Kh-102 strategic bombers.
At the same time significantly increase the ability of Russian strategic nuclear forces in terms of their viability, relative survival attempts of a hypothetical preemptive strike by a potential aggressor.
Russia has all the opportunities and to neutralize the potential of the space echelon of U.S. missile defense, which once again talking with the administration of the trump.
at the same time in our country is actively developing the tools of strategic non-nuclear deterrence, which is an important addition to the capabilities of our nuclear deterrent. It is primarily a high-precision long-range weapons to conventional, non-nuclear.
And principles of state policy on nuclear deterrence just give to understand that Russia is willing and able to protect the interests of its national security, even in the absence of agreements on arms control, preferring at the same time to have such a mutually beneficial and equitable basis.
