NATO, West Is The Biggest Threat Of Our Existence, Says Russia; Ready to Use Precision Weapons Versus US, Allies (au.ibtimes.com) In a 29-page document that he signed on Friday, Russia’s been given the authority to use precision weapons “as part of strategic deterrent measures.” The document was an updated version of the 2010 document, which said that Russia could employ nuclear weapons in the event a country and its allies hurls the same against it. The latest document did not detail how and when Russia will get to use the precision weapons, which could include ground-to-ground missiles, air- and submarine-launched cruise missiles, guided bombs and artillery shells, among others. “A build-up of NATO military potential and its empowerment with global functions implemented is in violation of international law, as well as the expansion of NATO’s military infrastructure to the Russian borders,” the document said. It added the deployment and installation of foreign military forces on the territory of Russia’s neighbours could be used for “political and military pressure.” Observers believed Moscow modified the document in response to the U.S.’ Prompt Global Strike program, which enables it to launch deadly precision weapons to just about any target in the world in as little as an hour. But Alexander Konovalov, a Moscow-based independent military expert, believed Moscow could be already building new weapons when it mentioned using precision conventional weapons as a “strategic deterrent.” Mr Putin also maintained in the document that Russia’s interests in the Arctic must be strongly protected. Competition for the region’s massive natural resources have also been escalating as the Arctic ice continues to melt due to global warming. The region is bounded by Canada, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, and the U.S. It holds 30 percent of the world’s undiscovered natural gas, 20 percent its liquefied natural gas, along with 15 percent of oil, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.