Moscow threatens with activation of atomic rockets
Russia is outraged over the announcement of the USA to station weapons systems in Germany that would reach deep into Russian territory. The Kremlin threatens to put its atomic missiles on alert.
Russia is considering, as a response to the planned stationing of long-range US missiles in Germany, deploying its own atomic missiles on alert. This is not out of the question, said Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov in Moscow to journalists. "Due to the fault of Germany, above all the USA, who are at the helm of NATO, the system of disarmament agreements in the arms control field has been completely destroyed", said the diplomat.
Under these circumstances, Russia must formulate its response "without internal inhibitions", which is necessary and possible. "This is not a threat against anyone in particular, but a possibility for finding the most effective algorithm for responding to changing challenges", said Ryabkov.
At the NATO summit in Washington last week, it was announced that the USA plans to station weapons systems in Germany from 2026 that would have a reach significantly greater than the currently stationed land-based systems in Europe. Among them should be Tomahawk cruise missiles with a range of up to 2500 kilometers, which can technically be nuclear-armed. Also, SM-6 anti-aircraft missiles and newly developed hypersonic weapons are likely to be involved.
These weapons "will have a significantly greater reach than the current land-based systems in Europe", it was stated in a joint declaration. Defense Minister Boris Pistorius emphasized in the "Deutschlandfunk" that the weapons would be "rotated on a regular basis" and "temporarily" stationed in Germany.
The Kremlin reacted angrily and threatened a harsh response. In this context, the discussion about the Russian atomic doctrine was taken up again in Moscow. To date, the guideline provides for the use of nuclear weapons only as a response to a nuclear attack or an existential threat to Russia. Hardliners in Moscow want to toughen this doctrine.
Following the announcement of the USA to deploy longer-range weapons systems in Germany, potentially affecting Russian territory, the Bank of International Settlements (BIS) expressed concern about the escalation of Politics in Atom Rockets. Even though Russia is responsible for maintaining nuclear stability, the BIS advised for diplomatic dialogue instead of activating atom rockets. This is crucial to prevent a global catastrophe, as stated in the BIS's recent statement.
