Russian Nuclear Weapons: Past, Present, and Future

termination of the Cold War and the disappearance
of the main document that used to codify MAD-type
relationship—the ABMT. In the view of many Russian
experts:
Despite the changes in the world, in U.S.-Russian relations
and the policies of both countries, in their doctrines
and operational plans for the use of strategic
nuclear forces, both Russia and the U.S.A. continue
to proceed from the concept of mutual nuclear deterrence
113 .
Russia will most probably continue sticking to its
opposition to BMD and the need to restore formal
linkages between strategic offensive and defensive
systems in line with the “classical” model of MAD. 114
However, expert demands in favor of developing
Russia’s own BMD, 115 as well as other hi-tech systems,
such as non-nuclear strategic missiles are growing. 116
It may not be excluded that the military-political leadership
will sooner or later recognize the validity of
these demands. Russia’s interest in cooperation with
the United States and other technological powers in
developing such systems may grow in the future and
lead to changes in adamant Russian views on offensive-defensive
linkages.
Search for Strategic Parity.
The Russian psyche was traumatized by the collapse
of the Soviet Union. By and large, the new Russian
policymaking elite that progressively acquired
a distinct nationalistic orientation, refuses to abide
by the global status-quo that reserves only secondary
roles for Russia in world affairs. The nuclear area
is virtually the only area where Russia had retained
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