On Monday, the government played down the comments Putin made over the weekend and threats of change from Russia. What would be US’s military posture when it deploys additional intermediate-range missiles? a nuclear capable cruise missile It will go ahead as planned on German soil during the next few years.
“Statements like this will not intimidate us,” said Sebastian Fischer, spokesman for the foreign ministry at a press conference in Berlin.
Christian Hofmann, deputy government spokesperson was also asked to react.
She said “we have taken note” of Putin’s remarks but added that what was being proposed would serve only as an ‘especial’ deterrent and since there were recent actions by Russia themselves that necessitated some changes here.
“That is because Russia alters strategic balance in Europe and endangers Europe and Germany with its cruise missiles- we must build a strong deterrent,” she said.
What did Putin say?
During naval parade in St. Petersburg on Sunday Putin threatened “mirror measures” if Washington proceeds with plans to place more weapons in Europe that could theoretically hit Russia.
In his view, such a similar occurrence may arise because of the arms race towards the end of Cold War in early 1980s when one main Soviet complaint was about deployment of Pershing missiles into then West Germany. He warned that United States might face a similar eventuality once again according to Putin.
“If such plans by America come true, we would go beyond our unilateral moratorium on deploying medium-and short-range strike systems including beefing up naval capabilities in coastal areas,” he noted.
Here, Putin referred to terms under which 1987 Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF) ended – one which both U.S.A. as well as Russia abandoned during 2019 .
Each side accuses each other of violating terms of treaty.
Nevertheless, with Russian withdrawal from pact, Mr. Putin has claimed adherence with its provisions ever since – an opinion likely challenged by United States and Germany – and warned that would cease if any more American weapons were based in Germany .
Although the arguments had already started before Russia fully invaded Ukraine in 2022, there might have been even harder tone and sense of urgency on both sides since then.
What changes are planned?
According to the joint statement from Washington and Berlin, by 2026, the United States will begin deploying weapons and equipment in Germany, including SM-6 missiles, enhanced Tomahawk cruise missiles (with nuclear warhead capability) plus a few ‘hypersonic weapons being developed’.
Such moves were interpreted by US as well as Germany as reactions to certain developments like Russia’s placing similar Iksander missiles within its Kaliningrad enclave located next to Poland as well as Lithuania.
Sebastian Fischer, spokesperson for the foreign ministry on Monday said: “We now plan to take response measures to prevent these weapons from being used against Germany or other targets.”
Germany has several U.S. military bases due to World War II and Cold War history.
A range of American missiles though with reduced range is officially deployed across the country.
However, it is common knowledge that at one of these bases in Germany—one which the governments of the US and Germany have never admitted to—there are still nuclear weapons. And if we compare this number with the years before 2005, it has fallen by two.
However, the numbers deployed in Germany as well as some other European nations is much smaller than it was at peak during the Cold War.