NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stressed on Thursday 13 February that the Allies had agreed to respond to the end of the Intermediate Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty.
Speaking to the press, Mr Stoltenberg said that all Allies had agreed on each step, “including a set of defensive, measured and coordinated measures” in response to the disappearance of the treaty.
“This includes adapting our planning and exercises, as well as our conventional, nuclear, air and missile defence posture”, he said, adding that NATO would not emulate Russia and has no intention of deploying new land-based nuclear missiles in Europe. “We will maintain the effectiveness of our deterrence and defence to protect our population”, he added.
“At the same time, Ministers stressed NATO’s strong commitment to arms control and disarmament”, Mr Stoltenberg said. In his view, the Alliance should continue to be the platform for discussion of these issues for Europe and North America. “We will continue this important work with a view to making further decisions later this year”, he announced, without giving further details. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)