Russian Nuclear Weapons: Past, Present, and Future

Measures to deal with the above “threats” were,
however, rather cautious and ambiguous. Besides
pursuing the reform of the RF Armed Forces to give
it “a totally new image,” the NSS called for improving
strategic deterrence and national defense. “Strategic
deterrence” was defined as implying “the development
and systemic implementation of a complex of
interrelated political, diplomatic, military, economic,
information and other measures aimed at forestalling
or reducing the threat of destructive actions by the
aggressor state (coalition of states).” 106 It was further
clarified:
Strategic deterrence is conducted with the use of
the economic capabilities of the state, including the
resource support of the national security forces by
means of developing the system of military-patriotic
education of RF citizens, as well as the military infrastructure
and the system of managing the military organization
of the state.” 107
As far as “national defense” is concerned, the NSS
stipulated:
The RF assures national defense on the basis of the
principles of rational sufficiency and effectiveness, including
by methods and means of non-military reaction,
mechanisms of public diplomacy, peacekeeping
and international military cooperation. Military security
is assured by means of developing and improving
the military organization of the state and the defense
potential, as well as by earmarking for these purposes
of sufficient financial, material and other resources. 108
The “Strategy of National Security of the Russian
Federation to 2020” struck many observers in Russia
as a fairly eclectic, poorly organized and poorly edited
document. 109
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