Putin and Russia in retro and forward: the nuclear dimension. Issue 1 (2nd January 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Cimbala, Stephen J.
• Is Part Of: Defense and security analysis. Volume 33:Issue 1(2017)
• Page Start: 57
• Page End: 67
• Publication Date: 2017-01-02
• Subjects: Nuclear deterrence -- Russia -- Putin -- Vladimir -- NATO -- Crimea -- Ukraine -- nuclear first use; Military art and science -- Periodicals; Armed Forces -- Periodicals; Military policy -- Periodicals; National security -- Periodicals; World politics -- Periodicals; 355
• DOI: 10.1080/14751798.2017.1289636
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1475-1798

Abstract

ABSTRACT: Deterioration in security relations as between NATO and Russia reached boiling point in the aftermath of Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its subsequent destabilization of Eastern Ukraine. As a result, some voices in the West look forward to the departure of Vladimir Putin from power, and others to the possible disintegration of Russia as a unitary state. However, both the departure of Putin and the collapse of Russia have a nuclear dimension. Putin has issued pointed reminders of Russia's status as a nuclear great power, and Russian military doctrine allows for nuclear first use in the event of a conventional war with extremely high stakes. Beyond Putin, a breakup of Russia would leave political chaos in Eastern Europe, Central Asia and elsewhere, inviting ambiguous command and control over formerly Russian nuclear forces.