Russia May Revise German Targets Over Nuclear Research
Russia may revise its priority target list in Germany if Berlin continues nuclear weapons research, as officials cite military planning concerns and NATO ties.
State Duma Defense Committee Chairman Andrey Kartapolov said Moscow would revise its list of priority targets in Germany if Berlin continues research linked to the development of nuclear weapons.
Gazeta. Ru quoted the lawmaker as saying that Russia would update its catalogue of sites designated for priority strikes.
A day earlier, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said Germany’s interest in nuclear weapons research had not surprised Moscow. He argued that such activity must be factored into military planning. The diplomat also said several countries were changing their legislation in an effort to acquire nuclear arsenals of their own.
On July 20, Russia’s Foreign Intelligence Service reported that the German authorities were seeking direct access to technologies required to produce nuclear weapons. The agency said Germany already possessed the necessary scientific base.
According to Euronews, Germany participates in NATO’s Nuclear Sharing program. Around 20 US B61 tactical nuclear bombs are stationed at the Bundeswehr’s Büchel Air Base in Rhineland-Palatinate.