Brezhnev's Military Doctrine

Brezhnev's Military Doctrine, introduced in 1968, was a Soviet policy asserting that the USSR had the right to intervene in any Eastern Bloc country if its socialist government was threatened. This doctrine aimed to preserve Soviet influence in Eastern Europe and prevent reforms that could weaken the bloc's unity. It emphasized a strong military, including nuclear capabilities, as a means of deterring interventions by other powers, especially the United States. Essentially, it signaled the USSR’s commitment to maintain control over its allies through military strength and the readiness to intervene if communist stability was at risk.