President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Russia had successfully tested a powerful new strategic missile and refused to rule out the possibility that it could conduct a weapon test involving a nuclear explosion for the first time in more than three decades.
Putin said for the first time that Moscow had successfully test-fired the Burevestnik, a nuclear-powered, nuclear-capable cruise missile with a potential range of thousands of miles.
He also told an annual gathering of analysts and journalists that Russia had almost completed work on the Sarmat intercontinental ballistic missile system, another key element of its next-generation nuclear arsenal.
Putin, who has repeatedly reminded the world of Russia’s nuclear might since launching his invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022, said no one in their right mind would use nuclear weapons against Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks at the plenary session of the Valdai Discussion Club forum in Sochi on October 5, 2023.POOL/AFP via Getty Images
If such an attack is detected, he said, “a number of our missiles – hundreds, hundreds – will appear in the air that no enemy will have a chance to defend”.
Russia has not conducted a test involving a nuclear explosion since 1990, the year before the fall of the Soviet Union, but Putin has refused to rule out the possibility that it could resume such tests.
He noted that the United States has not ratified the treaty banning nuclear tests, while Russia has signed and ratified it. It was theoretically possible for the Duma, Russia’s parliament, to revoke its ratification, he said.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, center right, and the Minister of Defense of the Council of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) visit a military factory in Tula, Russia. AP
Military analysts say resumption of nuclear tests by Russia, the United States or both would be deeply destabilizing at a time when tensions between the two countries are greater than at any time in the past 60 years.
In February, Putin suspended Russia’s participation in the New START treaty that limits the number of nuclear weapons each side can use.
But there is no need, Putin said, for Russia to rewrite its doctrine on the actual use of nuclear weapons, which says it may fire them either in response to a nuclear attack against it or in the event of a threat to the existence of nuclear weapons. state.
Responding to a question from Russian analyst Sergei Karaganov, who has advocated lowering the threshold for nuclear use, Putin said: “I don’t see the need for this.”
He added: “There is no situation today where, say, something would threaten Russian statehood and the existence of the Russian state. Nope. I don’t think anyone with a sane mind and a clear memory would think of using nuclear weapons against Russia.”
Karaganov has raised eyebrows among Russian and Western strategic analysts by arguing that it is time for Russia to lower the threshold of nuclear use to “contain, intimidate and sensitize our adversaries”.
He wrote in a recent article that Russia should “shake up” its enemies by threatening nuclear attacks on European countries and US bases in Europe.
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Source: thtrangdai.edu.vn/en/
