In a February 13 report, the Norwegian Intelligence Service said Russia had begun deploying ships armed with tactical nuclear weapons in the Baltic Sea for the first time since the Cold War.
Reportedly (pdf), the ship belongs to the Northern Fleet of Russia.
“With a weakened conventional force, Importance of nuclear weapons A significant increase for Russia,” said the report, which was translated by multiple outlets. “Russian strategic and regional deterrence Therefore, it is becoming more and more important for Russia’s military power. ”
The report claims that Russia’s Northern Fleet warships had regularly deployed nuclear weapons, but said this was the first time the Russian Federation had deployed them.
“A significant part of the nuclear potential lies in the Northern Fleet’s submarines and surface ships,” the Norwegian report said. “Tactical nuclear weapons are a particularly serious threat in some operational scenarios in which NATO countries may be involved.”
A Norwegian intelligence report also noted that ongoing tensions between Russia and the West could further escalate tensions with Russia. nuclear threat to NATO, It cites the fact that “Russian decisions are marked by a strong distrust of Western intentions”. He added that it could escalate into a wider war.
Russia is Europe’s ‘greatest threat’
Furthermore, the report noted that Russia will continue to maintain, modernize and further develop its nuclear arsenal over the next few years.
According to the 2022 report (pdf) According to the Congressional Research Service, which focuses on Russia’s nuclear weapons, doctrine, force, and modernization, the country’s nuclear force consists of both long-range strategic systems, including intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and submarine-launched ballistic missiles. (SLBM), heavy bombers, and short- and medium-range delivery systems.
The report also notes that the Kremlin is rapidly modernizing its nuclear arsenal, replacing Soviet-era systems with new missiles, submarines and aircraft, and that such weapons are used by the navy, tactical aviation and missile defense forces. It points out that it can be used
“Although Russia’s nuclear arsenal has plummeted since the end of the Cold War, Russia maintains a stockpile of thousands of warheads, with more than 1,500 deployed on missiles and bombers capable of reaching U.S. territory. There are,” said the report.
The latest report came shortly before Norwegian Defense Minister Björn Arrild Gram warned Russia. pose the greatest threat It added that Moscow’s confrontation with the West would be “long lasting”.
Russian sabotage in Norway ‘unlikely’
Bjorn made his comments after receiving the latest report from the Norwegian National Security Agency (NSM) on Monday.
Elsewhere, Lars Nordrum, deputy director of the Norwegian Intelligence Service for Foreign Affairs, said Russia could target Norwegian oil and gas facilities.
NSM head Sophie Nystrom also warned that “whole Europe would suffer” if Norwegian gas and oil facilities were sabotaged by Russia.
Despite concerns, the country’s internal security agency, the PST, said it believed Russia was unlikely to sabotage in Norway this year.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called on Western powers to step up aid to ammunition and other countries as the ongoing conflict with Russia turns one year on February 24.
On February 14, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg called on more allies to increase their supplies of ammunition to Kiev amid renewed Russian attacks.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.