NATO Secretary General Calls for Russian Transparency in Nuclear Treaty Cooperation

Jens Stoltenberg, the Secretary General of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), called on Russia to demonstrate transparency regarding its compliance with the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty, which the United States has accused Moscow of violating. The United States has accused Russia of breaching the principles of the treaty, while Moscow has denied these accusations and challenged the U.S. to provide evidence. Russia has also accused the U.S. of violating the treaty. During a security conference in Munich on Friday, Stoltenberg stated, 'We must support the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty and urge Russia to address NATO allies' concerns.' The treaty was signed in 1987 between the United States and the former Soviet Union. Stoltenberg also called for increased pressure on North Korea due to Pyongyang's nuclear ambitions. He added that while NATO's goal is to achieve a world free of nuclear weapons, NATO will remain a nuclear alliance as long as nuclear weapons exist. He stated, 'A world where Russia, China, and North Korea have nuclear weapons but NATO does not is not a safe world.' Stoltenberg expressed encouragement regarding the commitment of the U.S. and Russia to the treaty known as 'New START,' which aims to reduce nuclear weapons on both sides.