Russia Conducts Extensive Nuclear Forces Exercise Ahead of US Election

Russia initiated a substantial exercise of its nuclear forces on Tuesday, just days before the US election. The drills were commanded by President Vladimir Putin who stated, "Today we are conducting another exercise of strategic deterrence forces." Putin, in a video call with top defense officials, explained that the exercises simulated the use of nuclear weapons, and included practice launches of nuclear-capable ballistic and cruise missiles. This information was reported by The Associated Press via Russian media.

Putin Asserts Russia's Strategic Forces as Reliable Guarantor of National Security

Putin further emphasized that the country's strategic forces serve as a "reliable guarantor of the country’s sovereignty and security." He underlined the importance of having modern strategic forces that are always combat-ready, given the escalating geopolitical tensions and emerging new threats and risks. He stressed that nuclear weapons are "the ultimate, extreme measure" of ensuring Russia's national security. He outlined that the actions of officials in controlling the use of nuclear weapons would be worked out with practical launches of ballistic and cruise missiles. However, he also warned, "I want to stress that we aren’t planning to enter into a new arms race." The exercises did include confirmed ballistic and cruise missile launches, with the Kremlin stating that "all goals were achieved" successfully in the drills. Putin observed the drills from the Kremlin’s situational center via video conferencing, as confirmed by a state media press release.

Putin's Warning Amid NATO's Support to Ukraine

During the past summer, as NATO increased its support to Ukraine amid the war, and as Zelensky lobbied Washington and Brussels to allow long-range missile strikes on Russian territory, Putin warned that the Kremlin would soon update and expand its official doctrine regarding nuclear usage. "We plan to further develop the nuclear triad as a guarantee of strategic deterrence and maintaining the balance of power in the world," he said at the time. The only other countries to possess a nuclear triad as part of their national defense include the United States, China, and India. In late September, Putin announced that the change had been made. He stated, "The updated version of the document proposes that aggression against Russia by any non-nuclear-weapon state, but with the participation or support of a nuclear-weapon state, should be considered as a joint attack on the Russian Federation."

Putin's Stance on the Use of Nuclear Weapons

While Putin did not say that this would automatically authorize Russia to respond with nuclear weapons, he did assert that the threshold for their use would be met based on "reliable information about a massive launch of aerospace attack means and their crossing of our State border." He also included defense of Belarus as part of the change: "We reserve the right to use nuclear weapons in the event of aggression against Russia and Belarus as a member of the Union State," Putin said. This change in nuclear doctrine, coupled with the extensive strategic forces drills on Tuesday, seems designed to maintain pressure on the US, and to prevent any new approval for Kiev's use of weapons like the Army Tactical Missile System (ATACMS) or British Storm Shadows.

US Willing to Lift Restrictions on Ukraine's Use of West-Supplied Weapons

The Pentagon warned on Monday that the US is prepared to lift all restrictions on Ukraine's use of West-supplied weapons on Russian territory if North Korea joins the war in Ukraine. This comes amid recent reports that some 10,000 DPRK troops have been sent to Russia. Putin has previously warned that such missile attacks deep into Russia would be a 'red line'. This alone could potentially lead the Kremlin to deploy strategic nukes, in a nightmare escalation scenario. All of this is undoubtedly sending a strong message to whoever wins the upcoming US election.

Bottom Line

The timing of Russia's extensive nuclear forces exercise, just days before the US election, is noteworthy. The drills, coupled with the change in nuclear doctrine, seem to be a strategic move by Putin to maintain pressure on the US and other geopolitical players. It also sends a clear message to the incoming US administration. What are your thoughts on this development? Do share this article with your friends and sign up for the Daily Briefing, which is delivered every day at 6pm.