Lowered Nuclear Weapon Use Threshold by Russia, US Says "Not Surprising... Nuclear Posture Unchanged" (Summary)

White House "No Plans to Change US Nuclear Posture"

Yonhap News

The U.S. government announced on the 19th (local time) that it currently has no plans for a proportional response to Russia, which has relaxed the conditions for the use of nuclear weapons in response to Ukraine's long-range missile attacks.

According to major foreign media, a spokesperson for the White House National Security Council (NSC) said in response to questions about Russia's change in nuclear doctrine, "It is not surprising," and explained that the U.S. has no plans to adjust its own nuclear posture in response.

The State Department expressed the same position. State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller stated at a briefing that day, "We are unfortunately not surprised by the Kremlin's statements surrounding the newly revised nuclear doctrine."

Spokesperson Miller added, "Since the start of the aggressive war against Ukraine, the Kremlin has tried to coerce and threaten Ukraine and other countries around the world through irresponsible nuclear rhetoric and actions," and "Russia's irresponsible and aggressive rhetoric will not help improve Russia's security."

Miller also criticized, "This policy change only highlights Russia's hypocrisy," saying, "Russia is suggesting that it may use or threaten to use nuclear weapons against non-nuclear states that carry out the same kind of attacks that Russia is inflicting on Ukraine and its people." He emphasized, "Therefore, we have found no reason to adjust our own nuclear posture," and "We will continue to urge Russia to cease its aggressive and irresponsible rhetoric."

Earlier, Russia announced a new nuclear doctrine stating that attacks by non-nuclear states supported by nuclear-armed countries would be considered a joint attack. It also allowed the use of nuclear weapons against conventional weapon attacks that pose a 'significant threat' to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Russia and its allies. This is interpreted as a response to the U.S. allowing Ukraine to use U.S.-made missiles to attack Russian territory. In the early hours of the previous day, Ukraine launched six U.S.-made ATACMS missiles with a range of 300 km at Russian territory.