“NATO plans to heighten tensions with Russia”

NATO plans to upgrade the U.S. estimated 180 tactical nuclear weapons in Western Europe will only heighten tensions with Russia. This is according to European Leadership Network (ELN), a thinktank supported by former British defense ministers. “NATO plans to heighten tensions with Russia” The ELN experts believe that the NATO plans are unnecessary, expensive and likely to exacerbate already difficult relations with Russia. The Alliance is preparing to replace "dumb" free-fall nuclear bombs and ageing delivery aircraft with precision-guided weapons that would be carried by U.S. F35 strike aircraft. The report was written by former arms control adviser to the U.S. mission at NATO headquarters in Brussels Ted Seay. The plans to upgrade significantly the U.S. stockpile of tactical nuclear weapons would increase its ability to reach targets in Russia at a time when NATO and Russia are already locked in a tense standoff over missile defense, warns the report. NATO possesses 180 B61 free-fall tactical nuclear bombs in Europe stored at bases in Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Germany and Turkey. The bombs, relics of the cold war, have no guidance systems and are regarded as having no real military purpose or value, says the report. The aircraft tasked with delivering them are also in need of replacement. ELN CEO Ian Kearns told The Guardian that the NATO plans to modernize the nuclear weapons in Europe were “expensive and unnecessary”. According to him, NATO states are fully secure without this additional capability. He said that the West should “focus on removing all tactical nuclear weapons from Europe, not on modernizing them". NATO headquarters in Brussels (Beta, file) Tanjug

“NATO plans to heighten tensions with Russia”

The ELN experts believe that the NATO plans are unnecessary, expensive and likely to exacerbate already difficult relations with Russia.

The Alliance is preparing to replace "dumb" free-fall nuclear bombs and ageing delivery aircraft with precision-guided weapons that would be carried by U.S. F35 strike aircraft.

The report was written by former arms control adviser to the U.S. mission at NATO headquarters in Brussels Ted Seay.

The plans to upgrade significantly the U.S. stockpile of tactical nuclear weapons would increase its ability to reach targets in Russia at a time when NATO and Russia are already locked in a tense standoff over missile defense, warns the report.

NATO possesses 180 B61 free-fall tactical nuclear bombs in Europe stored at bases in Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, Germany and Turkey. The bombs, relics of the cold war, have no guidance systems and are regarded as having no real military purpose or value, says the report. The aircraft tasked with delivering them are also in need of replacement.

ELN CEO Ian Kearns told The Guardian that the NATO plans to modernize the nuclear weapons in Europe were “expensive and unnecessary”.

According to him, NATO states are fully secure without this additional capability.

He said that the West should “focus on removing all tactical nuclear weapons from Europe, not on modernizing them".