NATO Nuclear Strategy to Remain Unchanged

The nuclear strategy of NATO, stipulated in the 2014 Wales Summit Declaration, will remain unchanged in the near future despite recent media calls to update it, the acting head of NATO Press and Media Section told Sputnik on Thursday.

MOSCOW (Sputnik) — On Wednesday, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg stated in Washington that Russia’s "recent use of nuclear rhetoric, exercises and operations are deeply troubling." Following the statement, media outlets, including Wall Street Journal, called NATO to update its nuclear strategy amid Russia's "threatening rhetoric."

"The Wales Summit Declaration is NATO policy and the policy stands," Simone de Manso said.

The acting head of NATO Press and Media Section explained that the main principles of NATO's nuclear strategy are outlined in three paragraphs of the Wales Summit Declaration issued by NATO on September 5, 2014.

The declarations states that "deterrence, based on an appropriate mix of nuclear, conventional, and missile defence capabilities," remains a core element of NATO's overall strategy.

In April, Western media reports alleged that Moscow had planned to use nuclear force at a time of Crimea's reunification with Russia in case NATO moved additional forces to the Baltic region.

Kremlin dismissed the reports with NATO Supreme Allied Commander Europe Philip Breedlove stating that the alliance has seen no signs of Russia deploying additional nuclear weapons in the region.