Russia's foreign minister said Friday that the country's decision to revise its official military policy, which includes the use of its nuclear deterrent, should not be viewed with alarm, RIA Novosti reported (see GSN, Oct. 14).
"There are no innovations here that would create any threats to anybody -- that is, except for those who may be harboring insane plans of attacking the Russian Federation," said Sergei Lavrov. "I hope no one has such plans or ever will."
Moscow is updating the policy on first use of nuclear weapons as part of a revised military doctrine. Earlier this month, Russian national security council chief Nikolai Patrushev said the circumstances under which first use would be authorized were being updated to consider the possibility of the country coming under a conventional weapons attack from a regional or local source.
"This process of (drafting of a new military doctrine) is transparent. We have repeatedly provided explanations, and it is an ongoing process," Lavrov said.
The revised military policy is expected to be sent to President Dmitry Medvedev by the end of 2009, according to Patrushev.
There have been some concerns over whether the military doctrine should be updated.
Russian military analyst Alexander Sharavin said this month that the current policy only allows for the use of nuclear arms when Russia faces a major conflict with a force possessed of significantly more personnel or resources.
"I think that the provision contained in the 2000 document is comprehensive enough and need not be expanded because nuclear weapons are a political tool and an element of the strategic deterrent," Sharavin said. "If we announce that we will use these weapons in a local conflict, we will thus belittle its role" (RIA Novosti, Oct. 23).