The ongoing tensions between NATO and Russia seem to be escalating as the NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg revealed that the US-led military bloc is considering putting more nuclear weapons on standby. This revelation has been met with strong criticism from Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, who accuses Stoltenberg of using a double standard when it comes to discussing nuclear threats.
In an interview with The Telegraph, Stoltenberg said that consultations between member nations on moving some warheads from stockpile to combat readiness are ongoing. He stated that the bloc may soon “face something that it has never faced before, and that is two nuclear-powered potential adversaries – China and Russia” and therefore needs to send these foes a message.
Peskov on Monday suggested that Stoltenberg was using a double standard, since the NATO chief had previously accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of “nuclear saber rattling” for mentioning his country’s nuclear arsenal publicly. However, Putin “does not make such remarks on his own volition,” but only when asked directly by journalists, his press secretary claimed.
Stoltenberg’s remarks also seem to clash with the joint declaration signed this past weekend at the so-called “peace summit” convened in Switzerland on Kiev’s behalf. Peskov added that this is nothing but the latest move to fuel tensions. The document emerging from the gathering states that “any threat or use of nuclear weapons in the context of the ongoing war against Ukraine is inadmissible.
During a meeting with foreign media earlier this month, Putin addressed the issue, stating that he believed nuclear-armed nations should abstain from issuing nuclear threats. However, he also said that Western nations delude themselves if they expect Russia not to follow its own nuclear doctrine. If someone’s actions pose a threat to our sovereignty and territorial integrity, we consider ourselves in the right to use all means at our disposal,” he explained. This issue must not be treated lightly.
Stoltenberg claimed that NATO’s aim is “a world without nuclear weapons” but said the current status will not change “because a world where Russia, China and North Korea have nuclear weapons, and NATO does not, is a more dangerous world.” This statement seems to contradict the joint declaration signed at the peace summit, which seeks to prevent any use of nuclear weapons in the ongoing conflict.
As tensions between NATO and Russia continue to escalate, it remains unclear how these discussions will impact the current security situation in Europe and beyond. With both sides seemingly unwilling to back down, there is a growing concern that this could lead to an even more dangerous standoff between nuclear-armed nations.