NATO should listen to Germany on removing US
nuclear weapons from Europe, says BASIC
BASIC Press Release
Monday, 2 November 2009 - IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Germany's decision to seek the removal of
US tactical nuclear weapons is a welcome step and should be
followed by the Netherlands and Belgium as part of a process
towards their total removal from Europe, the British American
Security Information Council (BASIC) said today.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel will address
the US Congress on Tuesday after her new coalition government
took a historic —but little noticed —decision to
call for the removal of the 10-20 estimated US nuclear weapons
in Germany.
"These weapons no longer serve any military
purpose and are there for political reasons only. They are
a hold over from the Cold War," said Paul Ingram, Executive
Director of BASIC. He encouraged the North Atlantic Treaty
Organisation, which is due to review its Strategic Concept
early next year, to reflect the new strategic environment
which is now 20 years removed from the Cold War.
"NATO can no longer sweep this issue
under the carpet. The Germans have taken the lead and they
should be listened to. NATO needs to find other ways of reassuring
eastern European states that their security can be guaranteed
without these weapons," Mr Ingram said. "The Obama
administration should seize the opportunity to prepare for
serious cuts, in its discussions with the German Foreign Minister
on Thursday."
BASIC believes that Italy and Turkey, the
other European states with US nuclear weapons on their territory
should also work with NATO to consolidate and eventually have
removed the TNWs that are based on their territory. A total
150-240 nuclear weapons are estimated to be based on European
soil.
Contact: Paul Ingram, Executive Director:
+44 (0)7908 708175
pingram at basicint.org
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