Secretary of the Russian Security Council Sergei Shoigu announced who is covered by his country's nuclear umbrella.
First of all, according to the updated nuclear doctrine of the Russian Federation, it is intended to protect the countries of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO).
The Security Council representative made this statement after a meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers, the Council of Defense Ministers, and the Committee of Secretaries of the CSTO Security Councils.
He recalled that the previous version of the doctrine also provided for a nuclear umbrella, including in relation to Russia’s allies.
As for the new doctrine, naturally, it is primarily about the CSTO countries, TASS agency quotes Shoigu as saying.
He drew attention to a separate addition that concerns Belarus.
Shoigu reported that now, as stated in the updated doctrine, Moscow can use nuclear weapons even in the event that the aforementioned republic is subjected to aggression by means of conventional weapons.
But this is on the condition that such aggression will pose a threat to the existence of Belarus, the Secretary of the Security Council noted.
For reference
Sergei Kuzhugetovich Shoigu is Secretary of the Security Council of the Russian Federation (since May 12, 2024), former Minister of Defense of Russia (2012–2024).
