Russia criticises US plans to deploy nuclear weapons in Poland -

Moscow: Russia fired a salvo of criticism at the United States on the issue of shifting the US nuclear weapons deployed in Germany to Poland. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov criticised that the deployment of nuclear weapons in Poland is a blatant violation of the Russia-NATO treaty. The United States has deployed 15 to 20 nuclear weapons at its base in Germany, and the demand for removal of these nuclear weapons from Germany is gaining ground in the German political circles.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov expressed displeasure saying that there is a strong possibility of the United States deploying its nuclear weapons in Poland. That will be a violation of the Russia-NATO treaty. In the agreement, NATO has assured that no nuclear weapons will be deployed in the new NATO member countries. It is doubtful that the term will be abided by.

SPD and Greens, the political parties forming a part of the ruling alliance in Germany, have demanded the removal of the US nuclear weapons from the country. Reacting to this, the United States has warned the German government to take a firm stand on this issue. The US Ambassador to Germany, Richard Grenell, has asked the German government to explain through an article written by him.

While posting Grenell’s article on the social media, US Ambassador to Poland, Georgette Mosbacher, said that Poland was willing to let the United States deploy these nuclear weapons in the country. Mosbacher noted that Poland is discharging its NATO duties properly and is also aware of the threats. The criticism from the Russian Foreign Minister seems to be targeting the statement made by the US Ambassador to Poland.

There are nearly 150 US nuclear weapons deployed in five countries in Europe, which include Italy, Belgium, Netherlands and Turkey, other than Germany. US President Trump had announced the modernisation of the nuclear weapons in Europe in his nuclear policy declared last year. Thereafter, this demand for removal of the US nuclear weapons intensified further.