Nuclear Bombs: NATO Ponders How to Handle Its Stockpile

The U.S. stores an estimated 200 B-61 thermonuclear gravity bombs in five European countries - SSGT Phil Schmitten / DoD

Eben Harrell - On Nov. 19, the 28 NATO member nations will meet in Portugal to draft a new strategic concept — the document that lays out how the military alliance plans to use its forces to respond to a range of future threats and possible attacks. But while 21st century dangers such as terrorism, piracy, cyberwarfare and rogue nuclear states should be the focus of attention in the run-up to the summit, it's an anachronism that is causing the biggest disagreement: what to do with NATO's tactical nuclear weapons.

The U.S. stores an estimated 200 B-61 thermonuclear gravity bombs in five European countries: Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey. The bombs are considered tactical or battlefield nukes — as opposed to strategic or long-range nuclear weapons — because they are designed to be dropped on attacking armies, not the cities, infrastructure or industry targeted by strategic missiles and bombs. In NATO's case, the sole purpose of the weapons is to fend off the Russian army if it chooses to sweep across Central Europe in a kamikaze invasion. (See a timeline of nuclear disarmament.)

Because that is now an unlikely possibility, some NATO members — most vocally Germany — have advocated the withdrawal of the weapons, which polls show are unpopular among the populations of their host countries. But Poland and some Baltic nations have expressed concern that rolling back NATO nuclear deployments could undermine the idea of collective security on which the alliance is premised; analysts say they view Russia with suspicion and feel their safety is best guaranteed by a nuclear deterrent spread out among NATO states. ...

via Nuclear Bombs: NATO Ponders How to Handle Its Stockpile - TIME.