Significance of the Russian military doctrine

Abstract

The purpose of the new Russian military doctrine is to provide general guidelines for agencies and ministries involved in national security decisionmaking in order to avoid “one‐ministry” or “one‐man” policy and to ensure an integrated and consistent course for the Russian state. Russia does not concede that its security interests should be limited by its boundaries, since there is no feasible alternative to Russian peacekeeping activities in unstable areas like the Caucasus and Central Asia. Russia relys more on a doctrine of nuclear deterrence; thus, the absence of no‐first‐use obligation. Still, the new doctrine leaves open the possibility for unprovoked military buildup. The Russian government must act swiftly to foreclose such a possibility.