In its doctrinal documents from the Cold War era, the North Atlantic Alliance explicitly recognized its right to first use of nuclear weapons in a conflict with the Soviet Union, even if the enemy used only conventional forces. This is indicated by a declassified document from the NATO Defense Committee, available to TASS.
The document in question is titled “Interim Political Guidelines for the Initial Tactical Use of Nuclear Weapons by NATO“. The document, codenamed DPC/D(69)58, dates from 1969 and was previously classified as “Secret“.
“The policy set out in this document concerns the initiation of nuclear action by NATO when the adversary has not yet used nuclear weapons, i.e. NATO is taking the first step towards escalating nuclear war“, the introduction to the guidelines states.
According to the text, the main purpose of such a strike was to force the enemy to cease the attack, demonstrating the Alliance's determination to escalate. At the same time, the drafters of the document recognize that any initial use of nuclear weapons represents “a qualitative change in the conduct of war“ and must be politically controlled.
As stated in the text, NATO has considered several options for a “first step“, including the so-called demonstrative use. However, the document also envisages scenarios in which nuclear weapons would be used directly on the battlefield to achieve military effect if the Alliance's conventional forces are insufficient to deter an offensive.
“If NATO decides to initiate a nuclear escalation, the enemy must be convinced of NATO's readiness to continue this escalation“, the text notes.
The document also describes the possibility of strikes against targets outside the immediate combat zone, including on the territory of the Warsaw Pact countries. The risk of retaliatory strikes against NATO countries is cited as a deterrent.