Stoltenberg speaks on whether NATO plans to expand number of nuclear allies
Photo: NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (Getty Images)
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says there are no plans to expand the number of nuclear-armed allies of the North Atlantic Alliance.
He says there are no plans to expand the number of NATO allies with nuclear weapons. They are constantly assessing their position when it comes to conventional forces. But there are no plans to create, for example, a battlegroup in Sweden, as in the Baltic states.
For his part, Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson says that Stockholm sees no need to deploy nuclear weapons.
He says Sweden fully understands the need for all NATO defense capabilities, including the nuclear strategy. On the other hand, he sees no need for Sweden to deploy permanent bases or nuclear weapons on Swedish soil in peacetime. This is a Swedish decision.
Putin's threats
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has repeatedly threatened Ukraine and Western countries with nuclear weapons.
In addition, Russia has moved its nuclear weapons to Belarus. However, self-proclaimed President Alexander Lukashenko will not be able to use them on his own.
As CNN notes, the United States was preparing for a Russian nuclear strike on Ukraine at the end of 2022. Washington relied on certain intelligence information.
