Russia hints at potential nuclear deployment amidst NATO tensions
5 August 2024 08:34
- I admit that there may come a time when it will be necessary - said Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov, responding to whether the Russian Federation plans to deploy nuclear missiles on aircraft carriers. This is a reaction to a recent announcement by the USA and Germany.
On the sidelines of the recent NATO summit in Washington, the US and German authorities announced that the United States would begin deploying long-range missiles, including hypersonic missiles, SM-6, and Tomahawk, on German territory in 2026.
Chancellor Olaf Scholz argues that the weapons serve as a deterrent, to prevent war. Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov remarked on the announcement. Ryabkov did not rule out that Russian authorities might someday decide to deploy nuclear missiles on aircraft carriers.
- If the commander-in-chief of the Russian armed forces (Vladimir Putin - ed.) and our military say that there is a need to deploy special ammunition on aircraft carriers, it will be done - said Ryabkov, quoted by the TASS agency.
He also noted that Russia currently has no such plans. Such a decision must be made based on a combination of factors. I admit that there may come a time when it will be necessary, he added.
Pistorius: our plans cannot be compared to those of the 1980s
Defence Minister Boris Pistorius earlier emphasised that the planned deployment of weapons is not comparable to the deployment following NATO's so-called dual-track decision in the 1980s.
- This needs to be very clearly emphasised to reassure all those who are concerned here - said the German defence minister. As he pointed out, the weapons are intended for "true deterrence."
- It is about closing the gap on our side. Not to threaten anyone, but to make it very clear that a potential attack on NATO territory and its allies would have such a high cost for Russia that the risk would no longer be calculable - emphasised Pistorius.
In 1979, NATO made the so-called dual-track decision regarding the deployment of nuclear-armed missiles in Europe in response to the deployment of Soviet SS-20 missiles, which could reach targets in Western Europe. This decision prompted protests in both West Germany and East Germany at the time.
