Merkel agrees to deploy new US nuclear bombs in Germany

The United States is beginning to deploy new nuclear weapons in Germany, although the Bundestag in 2009 decided by majority vote that the United States should withdraw its nuclear weapons. But German Chancellor Angela Merkel changed the situation. Instead, German taxpayers will now have to pay to modernize airports for the US Air Force.

At the Bundeswehr airbase Buchel in Rhineland-Palatinate, preparations began these days for the deployment of new American nuclear bombs, which is confirmed by budget plans. Experts believe that the new tactical nuclear weapons, type B 61-12, are more effective than the atomic bombs that are stored in Büchel. NATO's strategy stipulates that NATO member states, nuclear powers, maintain regional infrastructure for storing nuclear weapons on their territory. Nuclear weapons expert Hans Christensen, criticizing the project, says: "With the new bombs, the line between tactical and strategic nuclear weapons is blurred."

At the same time, the Federal Government demanded exactly the opposite action. The Bundestag in March 2010 decided by an overwhelming majority that the federal government should insist on the withdrawal of US nuclear weapons from Germany. Even a coalition intergovernmental agreement in 2009 called for the withdrawal of nuclear weapons from Büchel. But instead of disarmament, 20 new nuclear units are currently being deployed with an explosive force of 80 Hiroshima.

The federal government is expected to invest around 120 million euros in Büchel in the coming years. For this money, the runway of the airfield should be equipped with a modern approach system. Also, for American nuclear weapons, it is necessary to modernize the air bases in Incirlik (Turkey) and Aviano (Italy).

Former parliamentary secretary of defense, Willie Wimmer (CDU), warned against "new options for nuclear weapons against the Russian Federation" in Germany and Europe: "This is a deliberate provocation of our neighbor Russia."

However, this measure is not surprising: at the NATO summit in Wales, Russia was identified as the new main enemy of NATO. Merkel had to revise the military doctrine of the Armed Forces, since Russia also treats the Bundeswehr as a potential threat.