A series of occasional papers on interstellar defence and fleet issues, from Jim's Fighting Fleets study group, the Defence Estimation - Long-term Planning, Homeworlds & Interstellar group.

Paper 1/3209 : SSR POLICY ON NUCLEAR WEAPONS USE 3209
3209.350

The Sirian Socialist Republic pledges allegiance to the principles and practice of international law and treaty.
The goal of SSR policy regarding nuclear weapons is to remove the threat of nuclear war by deterring its initiation against the SSR and its allies.

The SSR will not employ nuclear weapons against any other human state which (1) is not a nuclear power, (2) is not an ally of a nuclear power, (3) is not engaged in joint operations together with a nuclear power in aggression against the SSR, its orbital space, its territory, its allies or its forces.

For the purposes of this policy a 'nuclear power' is regarded as any state that routinely equips its military forces with nuclear weapons under local control.

In order to effect this policy, the SSR will maintain the structure and state of nuclear forces at a level that will assure inflicting the designated damage on an aggressor under any circumstances.

The use of nuclear weapons in combat against non-human threats is so far an area of new policy. In combating the so-called 'exterminator' rogue AI warships the maximum use of nuclear weapons will always be sanctioned.

In dealing with threats to the SSR from non-human technology, the use of nuclear weapons can only be approved at the highest level of Government.