The North Atlantic Treaty Organization is considering various scenarios for enhancing its nuclear deterrence, including the deployment of American non-strategic nuclear weapons in Europe.
Putin and nuclear weapons / © TSN.ua
The North Atlantic Alliance is exploring the possibility of stationing additional American non-strategic nuclear weapons in Europe as a response to escalating threats from Russia. Among the countries that could potentially host such armaments in the event of further deterioration of the security situation are Poland, Finland, and Lithuania.
This information is reported by Die Zeit, citing a study by the German Press Agency (dpa).
According to the publication, NATO is currently working through different strategies to bolster nuclear deterrence. One of these involves increasing the quantity of American non-strategic nuclear weapons stationed within the territories of European allies.
Concurrently, experts do not rule out the possibility that the United States may have already transferred modernized B61-12 aerial bombs to the British airbase at Lakenheath.
Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has not confirmed specific plans for new locations for American nuclear weapons but emphasized that the Alliance continuously evaluates its capabilities to ensure effective deterrence.
“Wherever we need to make adjustments, we will,” he stated, underscoring that NATO must be prepared to respond to any potential nuclear threat.
Poland, Finland, and Lithuania Among the Options
As Die Zeit notes, approximately one hundred American B61-12 aerial bombs are currently deployed at military bases in Germany, Belgium, Italy, the Netherlands, and Turkey. However, in the event of a further decline in the security environment, new plans might encompass NATO’s eastern flank nations.
American nuclear policy expert Robert Peters considers the deployment of an additional 100 to 150 units of American non-strategic nuclear weapons, particularly in Poland and Finland, to be expedient. He estimates that the necessary infrastructure could be prepared within a few months.
The expert justifies this necessity by pointing out that Russia possesses a significant advantage in non-strategic nuclear weapons, which he estimates to be more than ten times greater than the corresponding capabilities of NATO countries.
Deterring Putin’s Aggression
Former NATO Director of Nuclear Policy Jim Stoxs also supports strengthening the Alliance’s nuclear capabilities, but stresses that the objective is not to achieve parity with Russia in terms of warhead numbers.
According to him, the key task remains demonstrating the unwavering nature of American security guarantees to allies.
“We want President Putin to wake up every morning, have a cup of coffee, and say, ‘Today is not the day to attack,’” Stoxs explained.
He also noted that relocating American nuclear bombs closer to Russian borders is not a military necessity, as equivalent tasks can be performed from bases in Western Europe.
Instead, he believes that expanding allied participation in the nuclear deterrence system through certified aircraft, in-flight refueling, reconnaissance support, and joint exercises could be more effective.
What Will Be France’s Role
The Die Zeit article also points out that the French initiative to strengthen European nuclear deterrence is not considered an alternative to American security guarantees.
Mark Rutte emphasized that the nuclear capabilities of the United States remain the cornerstone of NATO’s deterrence system. However, no final decisions have yet been made regarding the potential expansion of the presence of American nuclear weapons in Europe, and the potential deployment sites and details of the relevant planning remain classified.
We remind you that Finland has definitively lifted the ban on the import, production, storage, and use of nuclear explosive materials within the country.
Lithuania has also expressed interest in hosting American nuclear weapons on its territory as a deterrent against neighboring Russia.
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