August 22, 2014
Russia’s Nuclear Revival And Its Challenges – Analysis
Although attention is naturally focused on the role of Russia’s conventional forces in the Ukraine conflict , we should not overlook the modernization of the country’s nuclear forces. The last few years has seen Moscow make great progress in stabilizing Russia’s decaying nuclear arsenal. The Russian government considers its nuclear weapons as its best tool of defense, deterrence, and global influence– essential for protecting Russia against external aggression and for preserving its great power status.
Despite recent improvements in Russia’s conventional forces and Russian mastery of the art of non-kinetic hybrid warfare techniques, Moscow continues to invest enormous sums in reviving its nuclear capabilities, which suffered financial and other problems following the end of the Cold War. Nonetheless, Russia’s nuclear buildup will continue to face major challenges in coming years and present risks to other countries.
More from CNAS
-
Exploiting Russian Weakness: Moldova and Georgia at a Crossroads
Podcast
Later this month, both Moldova and Georgia will hold crucial elections with the potential to profoundly shape their futures. As Russia attempts to reassert dominance along its...
By Andrea Kendall-Taylor & Nicholas Lokker
-
Andrea Kendall-Taylor and the Axis of Upheaval
Video
On the Russian Roulette podcast from CSIS, Andrea Kendall-Taylor discusses the rise of cooperation between Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea, in what she has dubbed 'the ax...
By Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Max Bergmann & Maria Snegovaya
-
Addressing the Axis of Upheaval
Podcast
Host Tom Keatinge of RUSI is joined by Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Director of the Transatlantic Security Program at CNAS, as they discuss how growing cooperation between the Axis ...
By Andrea Kendall-Taylor
-
Splitting the Atom on U.S. Nuclear Strategy
Podcast
Earlier this year, the Biden administration revised its nuclear strategy, the nuclear employment guidance, which is updated approximately every four years. This time, however,...
By Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Jim Townsend, James Acton & Jon B. Wolfsthal
