What is Military Doctrine?

The military doctrine is a system of official positions and views in which directions are set for the preparation of the state and its army for possible military operations. Each country has its own approaches to the development of the armed forces, which can vary depending on the social system and politics, the degree of development of productive forces, and the introduction of the latest achievements of science.

Definition : In fact, military doctrine is a kind of core of the general political activity of any state and represents the interests of all institutions, civil society in general and each individual. Although the government's intentions can be declared not only openly, but also veiled, there is no provision for closed sections in this system, which citizens would not know about. As a rule, military doctrine is clearly prescribed in the following basic documents: general military and combat regulations, the Constitution, various legislative acts, the concept of foreign policy and national security.

In Russia : The military doctrine of Russia is a set of official guidelines, which determine the economic, political and strategic framework for ensuring the security of the state. It was formed during the transitional period, under the influence of democratic transformations and a multistructure economy and dynamically transforming system of international relations. In 2010, new provisions were approved in Russia concerning decision-making in the event of a full-scale war, as well as local and internal armed conflicts.

In any situation, the RF Ministry of Defense and the Commander-in-Chief will do everything to protect the sovereignty and independence of the state, its territorial integrity, defeat the enemy and repel aggression. In case of conducting local wars, Russia declares its readiness to timely eliminate the hotbed of tension, eliminate the existing prerequisites for the conflict and prevent the resumption of hostilities.

On their territory, the military is obliged to carry out the rout and complete elimination of all illegal formations, and in international wars - to promote the cultivation of the warring parties, to help stabilize the situation and create conditions for a peaceful settlement. And Russia does not provide for the renunciation of the use of nuclear weapons, if the enemy uses any system for the mass destruction of its citizens.

In the US : The US military doctrine is based on the views of the country's leadership regarding the conquest of domination in the world, and is often aggressive. So, on January 5, 2012, a document was promulgated, where the main political goal of the country is to support its global leadership. Its provisions determine the stages of development of the US Armed Forces, clearly define their composition and structure, the preliminary planning of operations and even the approximate military budget.

This document provoked criticism not only in Russia, but also in Western European countries, including Germany. Although the military doctrine, the provisions of which are described in it, is merely an extension of the previously formulated political goals, experts are alarmed by the phrase "global leadership".

Formally, the Russian Federation is not on the list of potential adversaries of the United States, but in the document one can find one most important point. This statement is about uninterrupted access to natural resources anywhere in the world and providing safe opportunities for their transportation by air and water. Since Russia contains a significant amount of minerals, and because of the location of the state at the crossroads of Asia and Europe, the movement of goods across its territory is inevitable, such statements by the US leadership military and civilians may be considered a threat.