Russia Sends US Message Over Nuclear Tests
NewsweekOCT 2024
Putin's proposed changes to his country's nuclear doctrine are likely an attempt to breathe new life into Russia's saber-rattling — particularly at a time when Western countries are debating lifting restrictions on long-range weapons. Nonetheless, it's never good when a nuclear-armed country loosens its parameters for when such weapons can be deployed.
Russia has no tool to intimidate global partners other than nuclear blackmail. These threats should be ignored and should not prevent Western countries from providing Ukraine with the capabilities it needs to defeat Russia on the battlefield.
The proposed changes to Russia's military doctrine are in direct response to the military and political threats the country is facing. These changes are essential so that Russian citizens, and the Russian state, remain adequately protected.
There's a 23% chance that a nuclear weapon will be detonated as an act of war by 2050, according to the Metaculus prediction community.