Stoltenberg: NATO will not eliminate nuclear weapons unless Russia and China do so
The North Atlantic Alliance will not eliminate nuclear weapons if Russia and China do not do it, stated NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in the commentary to the German edition of the Morgen Post.
"NATO’s goal is a world without nuclear weapons. But the world will not become safer if NATO loses all of its nuclear weapons, while Russia, China and other countries continue to maintain or expand their nuclear arsenals," said Stoltenberg.
In addition, he called on Germany and other partners of the Alliance not to refuse to participate in the US nuclear program in Europe.
"The concept of nuclear participation is important for NATO. And I urge as many alliance partners as possible to be part of this nuclear participation - that includes Germany," the Secretary General said.
As reported by the newspaper, about 20 American B-61 type atomic bombs, each of which are three or four times more powerful than those dropped on Hiroshima, are located at the Luftwaffe base in Büchel.
Earlier, Stoltenberg rejected the proposal of some deputies of the Bundestag, according to which Russia could move its missiles to the east so that they could not reach Europe as a compromise in order to preserve the Treaty on the Elimination of Short and Medium-Range Missiles (INF Treaty).
Russia had earlier accused the United States of increasing the risk of nuclear conflict. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed concern over the new W76-2 American warheads.