NATO to keep nuclear weapons

Halifax, Canada (AFP) Nov 6, 2010 NATO leaders are unlikely to agree to reduce the defense organization's tactical nuclear stockpiles when they meet later this month, defense officials said Saturday. The leaders are to meet in Lisbon on November 19-20 to map out the future of the 61-year-old alliance. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev will also attend the talks expected to touch on missile defense.
The nuclear arsenal across Europe remains a source of friction with Russia and within NATO -- with Germany, Poland and Sweden calling for a greater NATO commitment to nuclear disarmament resisted by France and the United States.
But a revised mission statement is not likely to address US nuclear weapons in Europe originally meant to deter a Russian invasion, according to defense officials.
"As long as the world is nuclear, the (NATO) alliance has to keep nuclear weapons," Stephane Abrial, Supreme Allied Commander for NATO transformation told a security conference in Halifax, Canada. More at:http://www.spacewar.com/reports/NATO_to_keep_nuclear_weapons_999.html

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