BRUSSELS — NATO’s secretary-general says the alliance will respond to what it insists are Russian violations of a key Cold War-era treaty but won’t station more nuclear missiles in Europe.
Jens Stoltenberg said Tuesday that “any steps we take will be co-ordinated, measured and defensive, and we do not intend to deploy new ground-based nuclear missiles in Europe.”
On Feb. 2, the U.S. launched the six-month process of leaving the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces treaty it agreed bilaterally with the Soviet Union in 1987, citing Russian violations. Moscow denies any infringements.
The pact bans production, testing and deployment of land-based cruise and ballistic missiles with a range of 500-5,500 kilometres (310-3,400 miles).
Stoltenberg says NATO ministers will discuss Wednesday “what steps NATO should take to adapt to a world with more Russian missiles.”
The Associated Press
