Amidst rising global tensions, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has announced that the alliance is considering the deployment of additional nuclear weapons and putting them on high alert, a move that could mark a significant shift in NATO’s nuclear posture. Stoltenberg emphasized the importance of transparency in these discussions, stating that it contributes to conveying the message that NATO is, at its core, a nuclear alliance. This announcement comes in response to growing threats from Russia and China, with the latter expected to expand its nuclear arsenal to 1,000 warheads by 2030 and Russia conducting nuclear exercises and threatening their use .The Kremlin has responded to Stoltenberg’s comments with strong criticism, labeling them an escalation and contradictory to the Ukraine Conference communique, which deemed any threat or use of nuclear weapons in the Ukraine context as inadmissible. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has emphasized that President Putin only discusses nuclear arms when prompted by questions, suggesting that NATO’s proactive stance on nuclear readiness is unwarranted. The SIPRI report indicating an increase in operational nuclear weapons in 2023 adds to the urgency of these developments.As NATO and Russia articulate their positions, the international community is closely monitoring the potential implications for global security and the risk of nuclear confrontation.
Key points
- NATO is discussing the deployment of more nuclear weapons and increasing readiness in response to threats from Russia and China.
- The Kremlin criticizes NATO’s consideration of nuclear readiness as an escalation and a contradiction to the Ukraine Conference communique.
- Transparency is a key theme in NATO’s discussions on nuclear capabilities, aiming to maintain peace and security.
Contradictions👾Stoltenberg’s statements about NATO’s nuclear readiness are viewed as proactive by the alliance, while the Kremlin sees them as unnecessary escalation.
