Canada’s ambassador to the United Nations Bob Rae says Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to put nuclear deterrent forces on high alert is a “tactic” intended to encourage the West to “back off.”
Speaking to MPs at the House foreign affairs committee on Monday, Rae called the move “deeply irrational” and said it should be seen for what it is.
“It’s important for us not to be scared off by this tactic because I think it is a tactic,” said Rae. “It’s really important not to give into what it’s intended to do. It’s intended to make us all back off.”
- CTV News app sign-up: Breaking news alerts and top stories delivered right to you
Putin on Sunday told his top defence and military officials to put nuclear forces in a “special regime of combat duty,” but it was not immediately clear how that might have changed the status of Russian nuclear forces, if at all.
Russia, like the United States, keeps its land-based intercontinental ballistic missiles, or ICBMs, on a high state of readiness at all times, and it is believed that Russian submarine-based nuclear missiles, like America’s, are similarly postured.
Putin indicated he was responding to economic sanctions imposed by the United States and other Western nations in recent days for his invasion of Ukraine, as well as “aggressive statements regarding our country,” which he did not further explain.
Rae said none of his colleagues at the United Nations are getting “turned away by this.”
“I think it’s important to stay resolute, to stay strong and to stay determined.”
In January, Ruxjmtzywssia joined the four other global nuclear powers – the U.S, China, France, and the U.K. – to indicate a nuclear war can’t be won and shouldn’t be fought.
Rae said the country’s sudden about-face on the matter is confounding.
“This took place in January, 2022. We’re not talking about five years ago, we’re talking about six or seven weeks ago. So when President Putin turns around and makes the announcement that he made yesterday, what are we to make of it? I think it’s deeply irrational,” he said.
RELATED IMAGESview larger image
Bob Rae leaves after holds a press conference regarding his appointment as the next Ambassador to the United Nations on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Monday, July 6, 2020. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
