NATO Secretary General Anticipates a Diminishing Role for Nuclear Weapons

NATO Secretary General Anders Fogh Rasmussen signalled on 8 September that the NATO alliance would reduce its reliance on nuclear weapons for deterrence. Speaking after meeting with President Obama, Mr Rasmussen stated, “I would expect allies to endorse the grand vision of a world without nuclear weapons. But, at the same time, [they will] state that as long as nuclear weapons exist, the alliance will remain a nuclear alliance, while gradually reducing the role and number of nuclear weapons.”

The announcement comes ahead of the 19-21 November NATO ministerial summit in Lisbon where, amongst other items, alliance members will finalize a consensus position on the status of US tactical nuclear weapons in Europe. Rasmussen continued by stating that, “We will adopt a new strategic concept which, in broad terms, will give direction. And then, of course, it is for follow-up negotiations to produce more concrete facts and figures.” Rasmussen’s comments came a day after German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle announced that Germany will join a new group of countries, including Japan and Australia, calling for nuclear disarmament.

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