NATO is currently considering various strategies to strengthen its nuclear deterrence, including the potential deployment of American non-strategic nuclear weapons in Europe.
Putin and nuclear weapons / © TSN.ua
The North Atlantic Alliance is exploring the possibility of deploying 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 if the security situation deteriorates further are Poland, Finland, and Lithuania.
This information comes from Die Zeit, citing research by the German Press Agency (dpa).
According to the publication, NATO is actively working on different scenarios to enhance its nuclear deterrence capabilities. One of these scenarios involves increasing the quantity of American non-strategic nuclear weapons stationed within the territories of its European allies.
Concurrently, experts do not rule out the possibility that the United States may have already transferred modernized B61-12 air bombs to the British airbase at Lakenheath.
Secretary General Mark Rutte has not confirmed specific plans for new locations for American nuclear weapons, but he emphasized that the Alliance continuously evaluates its capabilities to ensure effective deterrence.
“Wherever we need to make adjustments, we will do so,” he stated, stressing that NATO must be prepared to counter 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 worsening of the security landscape, new plans might encompass NATO’s eastern flank states as well.
American expert on nuclear policy, Robert Peters, deems it advisable to deploy an additional 100 to 150 units of American non-strategic nuclear weapons, particularly in Poland and Finland. He estimates that the necessary infrastructure could be prepared within a few months.
The expert justifies this need by pointing to Russia’s 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 for Nuclear Policy, Jim Stöckle, also supports the reinforcement of the Alliance’s nuclear potential, but emphasizes that the objective is not to achieve parity with Russia in terms of the number of warheads.
According to him, the key objective remains to demonstrate 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,’” explained Stöckle.
He also noted that moving American nuclear bombs closer to Russian borders is not a military necessity, as such tasks can be accomplished from bases in Western Europe.
Instead, he believes that expanding allied participation in the nuclear deterrence system through certified aviation, aerial refueling, reconnaissance support, and joint exercises could be more effective.
What Will Be France’s Role
The Die Zeit article also mentions that the French initiative to strengthen European nuclear deterrence is not being considered as an alternative to American security guarantees.
Mark Rutte stressed that the nuclear capabilities of the USA 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 locations for their deployment and the details of the related 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 means of deterring neighboring Russia.
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