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/ USA / Security / Military industry /

Pentagon Lowers Threshold of Nuclear Conflict

US military try to convince the public that the use of low-yield nuclear weapons is inevitable

26.06.2018 15:56 Vladimir Kozin, leading expert at the Center for Military and Political Studies of the Moscow State Institute of International Relations, PhD at the Russian Academy of Military Sciences

Context:

In a story published on June, 13, 2018 Washington Post reporter Paul Sonne looked into the potential use of low-yield nuclear warheads by the US military.

According to statements coming from Pentagon, smaller-yield W76-2 warheads will be deployed on the B61 Mod 12 gravity bombs and Trident II ballistic missiles as early as 2020 – in compliance with the US’ new nuclear strategy of 2018.

The rationale behind the deployment and potential use of those low-yield nuclear warheads against any threat coming from around the globe, according to the US military, is Russia’s alleged intention to use similar weapons against the NATO countries, which, they say is laid down in the current National nuclear doctrine and – a US concept “escalate to de-escalate”, which Russia allegedly approved.

Now, let’s make it clear. First of all, in its chapters related to potential use of nuclear weapons the current Military Doctrine of the Russian Federation contains no specification of the type or size of nuclear weapons. Likewise, it does not refer specifically to strategic or tactical nuclear weapons.

The RF Military Doctrine uses single term – “nuclear weapon”, which – the weapon - could only be used in two cases: “The Russian Federation shall reserve the right to use nuclear weapons in response to the use of nuclear and other types of weapons of mass destruction against it and/or its allies, as well as in the event of aggression against the Russian Federation with the use of conventional weapons when the very existence of the state is in jeopardy”.

Which implies that Russian military regard their nuclear arsenal as strictly defensive. Moreover, the Russian Military Doctrine doesn’t mention any particular state or alliance that may come under a nuclear attack.

Curiously enough, the US expert community seems to be rather ignorant about the basic principles of the Russian Military Doctrine. However, a lack of professional approach in western comments on Russian defese policies is hardly new. It shows every time the RF military is conducting a drill, or deploying new types of weapons. This time it coincided with run-up to another NATO Summit to be held in Brussels on July 11-12, 2018.

In its turn, the US new nuclear weapons strategy unveiled in February this year, lists 14 reasons justifying the use of nuclear weapons, including the low-yield of up to 5.0-6.5 kilotons, according to US classification. In line with its new “escalate to de-escalate” concept the Pentagon plans to use low-yield nuclear warheads launched from aircraft and warships in pre-emptive strike, which implies it could increasingly use such weapons in local conflicts for the purpose of their -- de-escalation.

Such practice might cause a knock-on effect in the use of not only low-yield nuclear weapons, but of higher-yield nuclear explosive devices as well.

The mere fact that the issue of the low-yield nuclear weapons’ potential employment is widely discussed in the US and has already become very popular with the current US Administration, proves that American political and military leadership is set on lowering the threshold of the use of nuclear weapons, increasing the reasons for their employment. Their intention seems to convince Americans and the wider international community that using low-yield nuclear warheads at any given time or location is inevitable and fair.

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