<p>Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday (December 9) that Russia could include the possibility of a pre-emptive strike in its military doctrine, in an apparent reference to nuclear attack. He was speaking with reporters in Kyrghyzstan.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The reference to pre-emptive strike came in an answer to a reporter's question who asked Putin to clarify his statement on the use of nuclear weapons. Putin said Moscow was considering whether to adopt what he called Washington's concept of a pre-emptive strike.</p>

<p>"First of all, the United States has the concept of a pre-emptive strike. Second, it is developing a disarming strike system," Putin told reporters in Kyrgyzstan.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Gravitas: Why India's PM Modi is not meeting Putin for their annual summit</strong></p>

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<p>Putin said Moscow might need to think about adopting US "ideas for ensuring their own security."</p>

<p>"We're just thinking about it," he said.</p>

<p>"If a potential adversary believes that it is possible to use the concept of a pre-emptive strike, but we do not, then nevertheless this makes us think about the threats that such ideas pose to us."</p>

<p>Russia attacked Ukraine in February this year. After sustained gains in first few months of the conflict, Russian forces have had to retreat in the face of Ukrainian counterattacks. There is fear in Western camp that Russia might use tactical nuclear weapons if it feels that it was taking a beating in conventional conflict with Ukraine.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read | <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russia-open-to-more-prisoner-exchanges-with-united-states-says-vladimir-putin-541671">Russia open to more prisoner exchanges with United States, says Vladimir Putin</a></strong></p>

<p>On Wednesday, Putin warned that nuclear tensions were rising, although he insisted that Moscow would not be the first to deploy atomic weapons.</p>

<p>At the same, he said: "If we aren't the first to use them under any circumstances, then we will not be the second to use them either."<br />
<br />
Reacting to Putin’s statement, the US administration said it does not have a policy of 'no-first use'.&nbsp;The Biden administration declared that the “fundamental” purpose of US nuclear weapons is to deter nuclear attacks on America and its allies.<br />
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The Pentagon said the US would “only consider the use of nuclear weapons in extreme circumstances” to defend the interests of the nation in addition to allies and partners.<br />
<br />
<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

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Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday (December 9) that Russia could include the possibility of a pre-emptive strike in its military doctrine, in an apparent reference to nuclear attack.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Friday (December 9) that Russia could include the possibility of a pre-emptive strike in its military doctrine, in an apparent reference to nuclear attack. He was speaking with reporters in Kyrghyzstan. The reference to pre-emptive strike came in an answer to a reporter's question who asked Putin to clarify his statement on the use of nuclear weapons. Putin said Moscow was considering whether to adopt what he called Washington's concept of a pre-emptive strike. "First of all, the United States has the concept of a pre-emptive strike. Second, it is developing a disarming strike system," Putin told reporters in Kyrgyzstan. Gravitas: Why India's PM Modi is not meeting Putin for their annual summit × Putin said Moscow might need to think about adopting US "ideas for ensuring their own security." "We're just thinking about it," he said. "If a potential adversary believes that it is possible to use the concept of a pre-emptive strike, but we do not, then nevertheless this makes us think about the threats that such ideas pose to us." Russia attacked Ukraine in February this year. After sustained gains in first few months of the conflict, Russian forces have had to retreat in the face of Ukrainian counterattacks. There is fear in Western camp that Russia might use tactical nuclear weapons if it feels that it was taking a beating in conventional conflict with Ukraine. Also Read | Russia open to more prisoner exchanges with United States, says Vladimir Putin On Wednesday, Putin warned that nuclear tensions were rising, although he insisted that Moscow would not be the first to deploy atomic weapons. At the same, he said: "If we aren't the first to use them under any circumstances, then we will not be the second to use them either." Reacting to Putin’s statement, the US administration said it does not have a policy of 'no-first use'. The Biden administration declared that the “fundamental” purpose of US nuclear weapons is to deter nuclear attacks on America and its allies. The Pentagon said the US would “only consider the use of nuclear weapons in extreme circumstances” to defend the interests of the nation in addition to allies and partners. (With inputs from agencies) You can now write for wionews.com and be a part of the community. Share your stories and opinions with us here. WATCH WION LIVE HERE ×

Russian President Vladimir Putin toys with idea of ‘pre-emptive’ nuclear strike

<p>As war clouds loom over the Gulf, the question is: Will the US or its allies risk a pre-emptive strike on <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/france-warns-iran-against-further-breaches-of-nuclear-deal-232313">Iran</a> and trigger a conflict? So far, the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-playing-with-fire-on-nuclear-deal-trump-232172">United States</a> has sent positive signals, with its special envoy Brian Hook saying President Donald Trump's Iran policy is ultimately aimed at bringing Tehran to the negotiating table.</p>

<p>"No one should be uncertain about our desire for peace or our readiness to normalise relations should we reach a comprehensive deal," Hook said last month, briefing American lawmakers at a Congress panel. "We have put the possibility of a much brighter future on the table for the Iranian people," he told the House Committee on Foreign Affairs.</p>

<p>Successive US governments have resorted to pre-emptive strikes and regime change to further its interests. And the fear is, history could repeat itself again if the United States and Iran remain on a collision course.</p>

<p>Some in Congress have voiced concerns that US troop build-ups, sanctions pressure and heated rhetoric could accidentally pull the US into a military confrontation with Iran.</p>

<p>The Pentagon approved an additional 1,000 troops to the region after a recent attack on commercial tankers in the Gulf of Oman that the US blames on Iran.</p>

<p>Although many parties claim that a negotiated outcome remains very much on the table, there is the talk of a pre-emptive strike on Iran's nuclear facilities - especially in Israel - Iran's arch enemy.</p>

<p><strong>Watch: US-Iran Tensions—War clouds loom over the gulf</strong></p>

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<p>But an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities could have consequences - some unforeseen - for the region at large. It could snowball into a prolonged conflict in which other regional actors - both state and non-state - could become involved.</p>

<p>The pro-strike lobby worries that Iran could further provoke by <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iran-says-it-has-broken-enriched-uranium-stockpile-limit-set-by-2015-nuclear-deal-232067">enriching uranium</a> to a weapons-grade, enough to possess a nuclear bomb and a pre-emptive strike could prevent it. For the moment though, Washington is weighing its options.</p>

<p>Already, in the past few weeks, the US has dispatched warships to guard against threats to American interests in Iraq - and to deter Iran and its proxies.</p>

<p>But as a Brookings report suggests, a conflict would begin even if the US targets Iranian interests beyond its borders - for example, Iraq.</p>

<p>A pre-emptive strike on Shiite militias in Iraq or elsewhere in the region could push Iraq into another crisis and provoke Iran.</p>

<p>The Trump administration last year withdrew from the nuclear deal negotiated with Iran under President Barack Obama and began imposing layers of punishing sanctions on Tehran that have strangled its economy.</p>

<p>The US blames Iran for a number of attacks against American or Western interests in West Asia over the past few months, including on tankers near the Persian Gulf and a rocket attack near the US Embassy in Baghdad. Iran denies responsibility for the attacks.</p>


As war clouds loom over the Gulf, the question is: Will the US or its allies risk a pre-emptive strike on Iran and trigger a conflict? So far, the United States has sent positive signals, with its special envoy Brian Hook saying President Donald Trump's Iran policy is ultimately aimed at bringing Tehran to the negotiating table.

As war clouds loom over the Gulf, the question is: Will the US or its allies risk a pre-emptive strike on Iran and trigger a conflict? So far, the United States has sent positive signals, with its special envoy Brian Hook saying President Donald Trump's Iran policy is ultimately aimed at bringing Tehran to the negotiating table. "No one should be uncertain about our desire for peace or our readiness to normalise relations should we reach a comprehensive deal," Hook said last month, briefing American lawmakers at a Congress panel. "We have put the possibility of a much brighter future on the table for the Iranian people," he told the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. Successive US governments have resorted to pre-emptive strikes and regime change to further its interests. And the fear is, history could repeat itself again if the United States and Iran remain on a collision course. Some in Congress have voiced concerns that US troop build-ups, sanctions pressure and heated rhetoric could accidentally pull the US into a military confrontation with Iran. The Pentagon approved an additional 1,000 troops to the region after a recent attack on commercial tankers in the Gulf of Oman that the US blames on Iran. Although many parties claim that a negotiated outcome remains very much on the table, there is the talk of a pre-emptive strike on Iran's nuclear facilities - especially in Israel - Iran's arch enemy. Watch: US-Iran Tensions—War clouds loom over the gulf But an attack on Iran's nuclear facilities could have consequences - some unforeseen - for the region at large. It could snowball into a prolonged conflict in which other regional actors - both state and non-state - could become involved. The pro-strike lobby worries that Iran could further provoke by enriching uranium to a weapons-grade, enough to possess a nuclear bomb and a pre-emptive strike could prevent it. For the moment though, Washington is weighing its options. Already, in the past few weeks, the US has dispatched warships to guard against threats to American interests in Iraq - and to deter Iran and its proxies. But as a Brookings report suggests, a conflict would begin even if the US targets Iranian interests beyond its borders - for example, Iraq. A pre-emptive strike on Shiite militias in Iraq or elsewhere in the region could push Iraq into another crisis and provoke Iran. The Trump administration last year withdrew from the nuclear deal negotiated with Iran under President Barack Obama and began imposing layers of punishing sanctions on Tehran that have strangled its economy. The US blames Iran for a number of attacks against American or Western interests in West Asia over the past few months, including on tankers near the Persian Gulf and a rocket attack near the US Embassy in Baghdad. Iran denies responsibility for the attacks.

War clouds loom over the Gulf: Pros and cons of pre-emptive strike on Iran

<p>North Korea accused the United States on Tuesday of seeking to aggravate the situation on the divided Korean peninsula by &quot;deploying large nuclear assets&quot; nearby and lay the ground for a possible pre-emptive strike against it.</p>

<p>&quot;In view of the nature and scale of US&nbsp;military reinforcements, they are designed to make a pre-emptive strike against the DPRK,&quot; North Korean diplomat Ju Yong Chol told the UN sponsored Conference on Disarmament, referring to his country&#39;s official name the Democratic People&#39;s Republic of Korea.</p>

<p>&quot;US officials including the defense secretary and the CIA director repeatedly talked about DPRK nuclear and missile threat to justify their argument for a military option and a new concept of a so-called &#39;bloody nose&#39;, a limited pre-emptive strike on the DPRK is under consideration within the US&nbsp;administration,&quot; Ju said.</p>


North Korea accused the United States on Tuesday of seeking to aggravate the situation on the divided Korean peninsula by "deploying large nuclear assets" nearby and lay the ground for a possible pre-emptive strike against it

North Korea accused the United States on Tuesday of seeking to aggravate the situation on the divided Korean peninsula by "deploying large nuclear assets" nearby and lay the ground for a possible pre-emptive strike against it. "In view of the nature and scale of US military reinforcements, they are designed to make a pre-emptive strike against the DPRK," North Korean diplomat Ju Yong Chol told the UN sponsored Conference on Disarmament, referring to his country's official name the Democratic People's Republic of Korea. "US officials including the defense secretary and the CIA director repeatedly talked about DPRK nuclear and missile threat to justify their argument for a military option and a new concept of a so-called 'bloody nose', a limited pre-emptive strike on the DPRK is under consideration within the US administration," Ju said.

North Korea says US considering limited pre-emptive strike