MOSCOW – A Russian official says Moscow is alarmed by the US Navy’sdecision to deploy low-yield nuclear missiles on submarines since theyheighten the risk of a limited nuclear war.
Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said on Wednesday the deployment ofthe W76-2 warhead in the name of strengthening deterrence had caused Russiagreat concern over US nuclear strategy.
Ryabkov said Russian rearmament and “promising models of militaryequipment” meant the US warheads were not a direct threat to Russiansecurity but were concerning nevertheless, Russian news agencies reported.
“The appearance on strategic carriers of low-power warheads means argumentspreviously voiced by the American side about the possible use of such adevice are now being realized in metal form, as products.
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“This reflects the fact that the United States is actually lowering thenuclear threshold and that they are conceding the possibility of themwaging a limited nuclear war and winning this war. This is extremelyalarming.”
The comments came after the US Defense Department said on Tuesday the Navyhad fielded a low-yield, submarine-launched ballistic missile warhead,something the Pentagon says is needed to deter adversaries like Russia.
