Former Russian Adviser Clarifies: Nuclear Threats Only Apply 'If We Start Losing'
Former Putin adviser Sergei Karaganov, as reported by The Hill, has clarified Russia's nuclear doctrine: they'll use nuclear weapons against Europe if it 'comes close to a defeat.' (Apparently, 'defeat' is now a spectrum, not a state.) Karaganov, who has been a vocal proponent of 'escalate to de-escalate' strategies, isn't just a talking head; he's part of the hawkish segment of Moscow's
intellectual elite, influencing Kremlin policy for decades. His views aren't new—he's consistently advocated for a more aggressive, risk-tolerant foreign policy since the early 2000s, often aligning with the narrative of a besieged Russia facing existential threats. One might wonder if this 'defeat' threshold is a moving target, much like definitions of 'peace' or 'stability' often become when
geopolitical ambitions are on the line. It serves as a stark reminder that some powers use the language of mutually assured destruction as a bargaining chip, while others simply call it 'deterrence.' The mainstream media, by simply reporting the threat without deeper historical context of Moscow's long-standing strategic communication patterns, normalizes such pronouncements rather than
deconstructing them as part of a calculated (and terrifying) diplomatic play.