NATO to debate future of nuclear arms in Europe

Tomas Valasek of the Centre for European Reform think tank said tactical nuclear weapons had little military rationale, especially as their readiness had been so reduced they would take months to deploy. …"Some Central European countries would view a withdrawal of tactical nuclear weapons as a unilateral step taken by their big Western allies that puts Russia's concerns ahead of theirs ... so it will be a divisive question." It was important therefore to combine any such moves with reassurances on collective security by beefing up contingency planning for defence against attacks and staging more military exercises in former Soviet states to show solidarity. "I suspect the days of tactical nuclear weapons in Europe are over, barring a catastrophic meltdown in relations with Russia. It's just a matter of when and how. Do you do that unilaterally or in exchange for corresponding cuts on the Russian side, and with the alliance, or bilaterally?" he said.