Should Russia Deploy Nuclear Weapons in Syria in Retaliation for US Sanctions?
(Baonghean.vn) - A senior Russian lawmaker told TASS news agency on August 24 that the US policy of pressuring Russia has crossed the "red line", and Moscow should think about an asymmetric response, such as deploying tactical nuclear weapons abroad.
 |
| Lawmaker Vladimir Gutenev. Photo: TASS |
“I believe that Russia must now draw its own ‘red lines.’ It is time to think about various asymmetric countermeasures against the United States, which are now being proposed and envisaged by experts not only to counter their sanctions but also to inflict some retaliatory damage,” said Vladimir Gutenev, first deputy chairman of the State Duma’s economic policy committee, the lower house of the Russian parliament.
Among such measures, the official mentioned the deployment of Russian tactical nuclear weapons in other countries, such as Syria, the use of virtual currencies tied to the value of gold in Russian arms exports, and the suspension of several treaties with the United States, including the treaty on the non-proliferation of missile technology.
“It is no secret that serious pressure is being applied to Russia, and the situation will only worsen. It is aimed at dealing a blow to the sphere of defense cooperation, including defense exports. We see that the Americans are now talking about the possibility of sanctions against countries that buy Russian weapons… We should follow the advice of experts, that Russia should probably stop implementing the treaties on the non-proliferation of missile technology, and also follow the example of the United States and start deploying our tactical nuclear weapons in foreign countries. Perhaps Syria, where we have a well-protected air base, will be one of such countries,” Gutenev said.
The lawmaker added that in response to “possible US efforts to block deals on Russian civilian goods and weapons,” Russia should “consider the possibility of conducting transactions in virtual currencies linked to the value of gold.”
“And I am sure this will be a very interesting option for China, India and other countries,” he affirmed.
According to Gutenev, the entire package of measures “could become a very serious argument” in favor of Russia.
“In boxing, you can’t just dodge punches, you have to hit back. Especially when all the rules have been violated and the referees – like the WTO and other international institutions – choose to keep quiet,” he said.
Commenting on the sanctions that have now come into force, Gutenev said they were unlikely to cause serious damage to Russia's defense industry.
“The import substitution program has produced very good results, alternative suppliers have been found,” he said. “However, we are concerned about the fact that sanctions are still gaining momentum and becoming something that is imminent.”