Stoltenberg: NATO consultations on whether, how and when nuclear weapons could be used

In an interview with the French newspaper Le Monde, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said that Russia had underestimated the resistance of Ukraine, while at the same time overestimating its own military capabilities, which is why it is now forced to reform its plans. He also noted that many NATO countries, including the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, have significantly strengthened Ukraine’s military capabilities through the provision of defense weapons systems.

Asked if the gradual build-up of 100,000 US troops in Europe violated NATO’s formal framework for relations with Russia, Stoltenberg said Russia had been violating the framework for some time, beginning with the 2008 invasion of Georgia. that the increase in NATO troops in the region is aimed at securing peace and not at provoking conflict.

The NATO secretary general also said he did not want to go into details about how the alliance would react if Russia used chemical weapons in Ukraine.

Stoltenberg said, however, that there were consultations within the Atlantic Alliance on whether, how and when its member states’ nuclear weapons could be used. He noted that NATO’s role is to put an end to nuclear weapons at some point, but stressed that once China, Russia and North Korea have their own nuclear weapons, the world will be safer if NATO has its own.

Asked to comment on China’s stance on Ukraine, he noted that the fact that Beijing and Moscow work closely together influences NATO’s policies.

Source: Capital

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