Press TV
December 27, 2014
Russia’s new military doctrine lists NATO as key threat
Prompt Global Strike: World Military Superiority Without Nuclear Weapons
Russia has approved an updated version of the country’s military doctrine which considers NATO military buildup as a major foreign threat against its national security.
The new doctrine, which was signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, also lists the American Prompt Global Strike (PGS) concept among the top security threats to the country, Russia Today reported.
The PGS is an effort by the US military to develop a system which would allow the Pentagon to deliver precision strikes with conventional weapons at any target in the world in one hour.
The core of the new military doctrine remains unchanged as the Russian army is still a defensive tool, which Moscow has vowed to use only as a last resort.
The principles of the use of nuclear weapons have not changed since their primary goal is to deter potential attacks on Russia. However, the country would use them to protect itself in the face of the military assaults that could threaten its existence.
The new sections of the doctrine outline the threats that Russia sees in NATO’s expansion and the fact that the Western military alliance is taking upon itself “global functions realized with violation of international law.”
“The creation and deployment of global strategic anti-ballistic missile systems that undermine the established global stability and balance of power in nuclear missile capabilities, the implementation of the ‘prompt strike’ concept, intent to deploy weapons in space and deployment of strategic conventional precision weapons” are listed among main foreign military threats in the doctrine.
Relations between Russia and NATO strained after Ukraine’s Autonomous Republic of Crimea integrated into the Russian Federation following a referendum on March 16. The military alliance ended all practical cooperation with Russia over the ensuing crisis in Ukraine on April 1.
The United States and its European allies accuse Moscow of destabilizing Ukraine and have imposed a number of sanctions against Russian and pro-Russia figures. Moscow, however, rejects the accusation.
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RT
December 27, 2014
Russia’s new military doctrine lists NATO, US as major foreign threats
Russia has adopted an updated version of its military doctrine, which reflects the emergence of new threats against its national security. NATO military buildup and American Prompt Global Strike concept are listed among them.
The new doctrine was approved on Friday by President Vladimir Putin. Its core remains unchanged from the previous version. The Russian military remains a defensive tool which the country pledges to use only as a last resort.
Also unchanged are the principles of the use of nuclear weapons which Russia adheres to. Their primary goal is to deter potential enemies from attacking Russia, but it would use them to protect itself from a military attack – either nuclear or conventional – threatening its existence.
The new sections of the doctrine outline the threat Russia sees in NATO’s expansion and military buildup and the fact that the alliance is taking upon itself “global functions realized with violation of international law.”
The doctrine lists among major foreign military threats “the creation and deployment of global strategic antiballistic missile systems that undermines the established global stability and balance of power in nuclear missile capabilities, the implementation of the ‘prompt strike’ concept, intent to deploy weapons in space and deployment of strategic conventional precision weapons.”
Another new point in the doctrine is that one of the Russian military’s goals is to protect national interests in the Arctic region.
The document also points to the threat of destabilization countries bordering Russia or its allies and deployment of foreign troops such nations as a threat to national security.
Domestically, Russia faces threats of “actions aimed at violent change of the Russian constitutional order, destabilization of the political and social environment, disorganization of the functioning of governmental bodies, crucial civilian and military facilities and informational infrastructure of Russia,” the doctrine says.
Moscow sees international cooperation with countries sharing its effort to increase security, particularly members of BRICS, the OSCE, the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and others as the key to preventing military conflicts, the doctrine states.
Traditional threats that Russia must deal with mentioned in the doctrine include extremism and terrorism, proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and rocket technology and actions of foreign intelligence services.
The document notes that modern threats are increasingly drifting from a military nature to informational, and states that the likelihood of anyone launching a fully-fledged war against Russia is decreasing.
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Interfax
December 26, 2014
CSTO secretary-general accuses NATO
MOSCOW: NATO’s activities have made a significant contribution to the exacerbation of the situation in Ukraine and the creation of a new hotbed of tension, Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Secretary General Nikolai Bordyuzha said.
“Ukraine has shown why contacts and interaction in the CSTO-NATO format have not worked. There were other political reasons. The objective was to create a hotbed of tension near Russia. And, by the way, representatives of NATO member-states had no small share in this,” Bordyuzha said in an interview shown on the Rossiya-24 TV channel.
All proposals the CSTO has made to NATO on arranging interaction in opposing terrorism, drug trafficking, and illegal immigration have been left “without coherent answers,” he said.
Bordyuzha described NATO’s decision to increase its military groups near Russian borders, including air force ones, as counterproductive steps.
“What is this for? Are these intimidating actions? But, frankly speaking, they’ve had no effect,” he said.
Russia and the CSTO should not respond to these “purely provocative actions,” he said.
At the same time, the CSTO should build a security system “that could guard us from any ill-conceived and reckless actions on NATO’s part,” he said.
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