In recent hours, international fears have resurfaced regarding the potential use of nuclear weapons by Russia, following the Kremlin's hints that it might consider this option in response to NATO's expansion. Washington has already issued warnings about this issue. The U.S. intelligence community explained that at the core of Russian military doctrine is a principle known as "escalate to de-escalate," which may involve launching a first strike with low-yield nuclear weapons to regain the initiative if conventional conflict with the West goes poorly.
Concerns about a nuclear conflict
In this context, CIA Director William Burns indicated that what he termed Russia's military setbacks in Ukraine could push President Vladimir Putin to use a tactical or low-yield nuclear weapon. He stated in a speech in Atlanta last night, as reported by AFP, "Given the potential for Putin and Russian leadership to be in a state of desperation, and the military setbacks they are facing so far, none of us can take lightly the threat posed by a potential resort to tactical nuclear weapons or low-yield nuclear weapons." He also emphasized that U.S. intelligence is certainly concerned about this issue and added that President Biden is deeply worried about avoiding a Third World War and steering clear of the threshold where nuclear conflict could become possible.
NATO intervention
However, if this nuclear hypothesis were indeed realized, what could happen? The answer to this question became clear through Burns' own words. He explained that under such a scenario, "NATO would likely intervene militarily on the ground to support Kyiv." It is noteworthy that since the launch of its military operation on Ukrainian territory on February 24, the Kremlin has placed Russian nuclear forces on a heightened state of alert, but the United States did not see at that time any "significant operational evidence" of actual deployments of these weapons that would warrant further concern.
Nevertheless, nuclear fears have again escalated after Moscow hinted yesterday at the possibility of deploying nuclear weapons in the Baltic Sea if NATO expands through the accession of Finland and Sweden. Russia possesses many tactical nuclear weapons, which are less potent than the bomb dropped by the United States on Hiroshima during World War II.
