The Russian ambassador to the United States has called on Washington to recall the nuclear weapons it has in other countries. This is reported by the Russian news agency Tass. The Netherlands would also house such weapons.
“In these times of tensions and heightened risks, nuclear states have a special responsibility to prevent escalation,” said Anatoly Antonov. “Having said that, I once again call on Washington to return all nuclear weapons that are located abroad to its national territory.”
The Russians also want the Americans to dismantle the overseas storage infrastructure and to refrain from exercises for the use of such weapons, involving troops from non-nuclear countries.
Contrary to treaties
These “joint nuclear missions” by the US and other NATO countries, which are currently taking place, are, according to Russia, contrary to the basic principles of previously concluded nuclear weapons treaties.
The envoy responded to an article claiming that, given current tensions, America would like to speed up stockpiling upgraded B61-12 nuclear bombs, which cost $28 million each.
“All our tactical nuclear weapons are stored in centralized facilities in Russia and cannot pose a threat to the United States,” Antonov stressed. “However, the American aerial bombs are deployed in European countries, with short flight times to the Russian border.”
Not specifically directed against Russia
The NATO leadership counters that the current exercises are not aimed specifically at Russia.
According to American sources, twenty B61-12 renewed nuclear bombs would also be placed at the Dutch air base Volkel from this year. These weapons are GPS controlled and find their target via laser.
The Dutch government has not wanted to make any official statements about the presence of nuclear weapons on our territory for decades. However, investigative journalists from Bellingcat provided detailed information in 2019 about the number of weapons at the Volkel site and the method of storage.
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