NEW MILITARY DOCTRINE ENTITLES RUSSIA TO FIRST NUCLEAR STRIKE

PanARMENIAN.Net
22.12.2009 16:54 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ The new military doctrine, approved by the Security
Council recognizes Russia’s right to use nuclear weapons first in
case of threat to its statehood, Nikolai Makarov, RF Army General and
Chief of Armed Forces’ General Staff, told a traditional annual meeting
with foreign military attaches accredited in Moscow on December 21.

He did not disclose other provisions of the document, noting that
details will become available only after the RF president approves it.

According to him, the new military doctrine articulates current
threats and challenges to Russia’s security.

As Nikolai Makarov noted, five objectives of the military reform have
been addressed in 2009, such as bringing all military formations and
units to the status of permanent readiness, establishing military
equipment bases in each military district, etc.

The costly process of re-equipping of forces with modern weapons will
extend until 2020, General Makarov said.

Saying that Russia and the United States will proceed signing of a new
START Treaty in early 2010, he mentioned that the previous treaty was
detrimental to Russia. "We come to understanding in the vast majority
of issues," he concluded.