Stoltenberg: NATO, talks to put nuclear weapons on standby

NATO has committed itself to talks to deploy more nuclear weapons in a state of readiness, moving them from warehouses, in the face of increased threats from Russia and China, the coalition chief said on Monday.

Secretary - General NATO Jens Stoltenberg told the British daily newspaper “The Telegraph” that member states are discussing with each other the idea to use transparency about the alliance's nuclear arsenal as a preventative step.

I won't talk about operational details about how many nuclear weapons heads should be operational and which should be held in the warehouse, but we should consult about these issues. And that's exactly what we're doing,” He told the newspaper.

“Transparency helps us communicate the direct message that we are, of course, a nuclear alliance. ”

“The goal of NATO, of course, is a world without nuclear weapons, but while nuclear weapons exist, we will continue to remain a nuclear alliance, because in a world where Russia, China and North Korea have nuclear weapons, and NATO does not, that world will be the most dangerous world. ”

Last week Secretary Stoltenberg said the nuclear weapons were. “The main security race” NATO and means to maintain peace.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that “this is nothing but another escalation of tension”.

Later, Mr. Stoltenberg said Russia is trying to create confusion and that his comments refer to modernising NATO's pre-emptive nuclear arsenal, including replacing F-16s with F-35s and modernising weapons in Europe, which, according to him, have now become known.

“Russia always tries to create situations to blame NATO, but the reality is that NATO is transparent”, He told reporters in Washington.

While in Washington on Monday, Secretary Stoltenberg said over 20 NATO member states have met the Western military alliance's goals of military spending this year, a record while Russia's war in Ukraine is increasing the threat of an expansion of the conflict in Europe.

This figure represents a fourfold increase in the number of NATO member states that are fulfilling their obligations about military spending compared to 2021. That year, before Russian President Vladimir Putin attacked Ukraine, only six NATO members had met that goal.

The Europeans are doing more for their collective security than years ago,” Mr. Stoltenberg said during a speech at the é Wilson Center before meeting US President Joe Biden at the White House.

NATO members agreed last year to spend at least 2 per cent of their gross domestic production on defence. This increase in defence spending is the reflection of concerns about the war in Ukraine.

Several countries are also concerned over the possibility of re-election former President Donald Trump, who has described many of NATO's allies that they are exploiting American military spending and during the campaign, has declared that it will not protect NATO members who do not meet the objectives of spending on defence issues.

Secretary Stoltenberg's visit is creating the context for the important meeting of NATO leaders to be held in Washington in July. The Alliance for Bilateral Defence has increased in number and force since Russia's attack on Ukraine two years ago, admitting Sweden and Finland to its ranks.

Much of the meeting is expected to focus on discussions on what NATO and its member states governments for Ukraine can do, which continues to face unprecedented air and ground attacks by Russia. So far, these governments have resisted the calls of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to accept his country's alliance as war continues.

Secretary Stoltenberg focused on efforts to help Ukraine during this period. These efforts include simplifying a process for former Ukrainian membership in NATO and providing weapons and training to Ukraine's military from NATO member states, including the United States, which is providing Ukraine with F-16 planes and training Ukrainian pilots in the United States to lead these advanced fighter aircraft.

The point is to get our membership closer so that when the time comes, when there's consensus, it becomes a member immediately,” Mr. Stoltenberg said.

Regardless of how Russia's offensive ends, Ukraine's membership in the alliance will change Mr. Putin's mind to try again in the future to invade Ukraine, the chief said NATO.

“ Ukraine “will ensure that the war will really end,” He said. / VOA