Brian Bradley
NS&D Monitor
4/17/2015
The New York Times Editorial Board published editorial April 16 criticizing Russian President Vladimir’s recent actions, including nuclear saber-rattling which is part of Putin’s “alarming behavior.” “Even for Mr. Putin, the recent nuclear threats have set a new benchmark for hostility in the conflict he has ignited with the West,” the article states. The NYT article notes that the Times of London two weeks ago reported on a meeting between Russian and American officials in which the Russians threatened a “spectrum of responses from nuclear to non-military” if NATO moves more military forces into the Baltic States. The editorial also cites Russian officials’ threats to target Danish warships with nuclear weapons and Putin’s stated readiness to bring strategic forces into alert during the Crimea crisis.
The article also notes that U.S. officials have said they haven’t seen evidence that Russia has started to reposition or alert their nuclear arsenal. “But even if the Russian threats are loose talk to intimidate adversaries or curry favor with nationalists at home, they reflect a cynical disregard for Russia’s post-Cold War role as a partner with America in arms control treaties designed to discourage the spread of nuclear weapons,” the article states. “These threats inevitably raise tensions and could increase the chances of deadly miscalculations.”
