Russia accuses US of viewing Europe as potential nuclear battlefield

Belousov argued that by urging Russia to engage in a dialogue on non-strategic nuclear arsenal, the US is trying to divert international attention from the risks posed by American nuclear weapons deployed in Europe and Washington’s broader missile and nuclear programs. Read:Revolver gift leaves NATO leaders with dilemma.

The official said obtaining information about Russia’s non-strategic nuclear weapons through greater transparency measures, or reducing or eliminating the arsenal, could increase the likelihood of a nuclear-use scenario involving the US and its. European allies.

“I hope that Europe will recognise the danger of Washington’s purely operational-military approach to the territory of its allies,” he said., the deployment of US nuclear weapons in European NATO countries and NATO’s “nuclear sharing” arrangements have long been a concern for Moscow.

The expansion of such arrangements, including the involvement of additional NATO members in exercises related to the potential use of nuclear weapons, was increasing risks to Russia’s security, he said.

Belousov said Russia had reduced its non-strategic nuclear arsenal by four times in the early 1990s and moved the remaining weapons to centralised storage facilities, saying Moscow had expected reciprocal steps from Washington. The diplomat argued that subsequent US moves had not fundamentally changed the military-political situation in Europe.

Read More:Alliance by footnote. He also said the collapse of arms-control and nuclear-disarmament agreements, combined with US plans to develop a multilayered missile-defence system under the “Golden Dome” program and modernise its nuclear forces, had significantly worsened the strategic environment.

Belousov said Russia was seeking to initiate an international discussion on what it considers the destabilising nature of NATO’s nuclear-sharing arrangements and to encourage theUS to withdrawits nuclear weapons from Europe. At the same time, Moscow remained open to resuming a strategic dialogue with Washington, although prospects for mutually acceptable agreements currently appeared limited, he stressed.

Belousov emphasised that any such negotiations should be based on equal and indivisible security and address the broader range of factors affecting strategic stability rather than focusing on individual issues.

Belousov also said Russia would respond to developments in the strategic-arms sphere through a combination of political, diplomatic, and military-technical measures aimed at maintaining strategic balance and addressing potential additionalthreats to its security. Belousov’s comments come as the US continues to maintain nuclear weapons in Europe as part of NATO’s nuclear deterrence arrangements.

Also Read:UN chief says nuclear tests 'shatter trust,' wants global test ban. The Pentagon has said Washington remains committed to nuclear deterrence while urging European NATO members to assume greater responsibility for the alliance’s conventional defence.

US President Donald Trump said this week that he was not concerned about the possibility of Russia attacking NATO territory, amid growing European concerns over a potential Russian military challenge to the alliance.

Meanwhile, NATO has criticised Russia’s expansion and modernisation of its non-strategic nuclear capabilities, while Moscow views its nuclear arsenal as the only means capable of deterring an attack from NATO, which significantly outnumbers its forces. The issue of non-strategic, or tactical, nuclear weapons has long been a contentious subject in US-Russian arms-control discussions.

The two countries maintain significant tactical nuclear arsenals, while the US also deploys nuclear weapons in Europe under NATO arrangements. Belousov’s remarks come amid broader tensions over European security and the future of arms control following theexpiration of the New START treatyin February, which had been the last remaining treaty limiting US and Russian strategic nuclear arsenals.