Putin Issues Ominous Nuclear Triad Expansion Warning

Russian President Vladimir Putin has wrapped up his Asia tour which included stops in North Korea and Vietnam. He had inked dozens of agreements with both countries, but most notable was the defense pact with Kim Jong Un, which we previously detailed. 

On the geopolitical and security ties front, and closely watched by the West, were a couple of ominous warnings Putin issued at a closing press conference in Hanoi on Thursday. He described that Russia might change its nuclear deterrence policy.

Not not only have the last months witnessed no shortage of nuclear threats and saber-rattling between Moscow and NATO, but some US lawmakers have gone so far as to describe a "Cuban missile crisis in space" following claims Russia is intent on launching a nuclear space weapon into orbit.

As it stands, Russian nuclear doctrine is based on deploying nukes only in the scenario that the Russian home land comes under existential threat (much like other nuclear armed countries). But below is the press release summarizing Putin's words issued by Sputnik:

Russia may consider amending nuclear deterrence policy, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned. According to Putin, this matter became a subject of debate in light of the recent discussions in the world on lowering the threshold of nuclear weapon use.

At the same time, the Russian president noted that Russia has no need an ability to launch a preemptive nuclear strike.

In follow-up, Putin later met with graduates of the country's military universities at the Kremlin upon his return to Russia from his Asia trip. In the fresh address, he said he will order a further development of the nuclear triad - which is a reference to the three-fold strategic defense involving intercontinental ballistic missiles, submarine-launched ballistics missiles, and bomber aircraft.

"We plan to further develop the nuclear triad as a guarantee of strategic deterrence and maintaining the balance of power in the world," he said. The only other countries to possess a nuclear triad as part of their national defense include the United States, China, and India. 

To be expected, he spoke somewhat vaguely about the potential changes to come... "Certainly, we will strengthen our potential, enhance the combat capabilities of all branches and types of the armed forces, put into combat duty the pride of our designers, engineers, and workers — the latest systems that have confirmed their qualities and truly unique characteristics, and continue working on advanced models," he described according to state media.

All of this becomes even more unsettling for world leaders given the defense pact he just signed with North Korea's Kim. Related to this, he had earlier issued a warning to South Korea in response to reports that it may ship weapons to Ukraine: 

Possible deliveries of such weapons to the conflict zone in Ukraine by South Korea would be a mistake, Putin warned.

"As for the supply of lethal weapons to the combat zone in Ukraine, it would be a very big mistake. I hope it will not happen. If it does, then we too will then make the respective decisions, which South Korea's current leadership is unlikely to be pleased with," he said.

He then threatened the reciprocal actions of arming Pyongyang with advanced Russian weapons. "Those who are supplying these weapons believe that they are not at war with us, well, I have said, including in Pyongyang, that we reserve the right to supply weapons to other regions, bearing in mind our agreements with the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, I don’t rule out this as well, where will these [weapons] go," Putin said.

This would be a 'worst nightmare scenario' also considering the Pentagon has for decades had large numbers of troops stationed on the Korean peninsula. Seoul is unlikely to pull the trigger on arming Kiev in any significant way, given it would further destabilize already tense relations with the north.