NATO zeigt sich besorgt über mögliche russische Vertragsverletzung bei Atom-Mittelstreckenraketen

Gut 30 Jahre nach Unterzeichnung des Vertrags zwischen den USA und der damaligen Sowjetunion, der zur Abschaffung der nuklearen Mittelstreckenraketen führte, hat sich die NATO besorgt über mögliche neue Aufrüstungsschritte Russlands geäußert. Die Allianz selbst ist nicht Partner des so genannten INF-Vertrags (Intermediate Nuclear Forces). Dennoch verabschiedete der Nordatlantikrat, das politische Spitzengremium der NATO, am (heutigen) Freitag eine Erklärung, in der Russland dazu aufgerufen wurde, Befürchtungen über eine russische Entwicklung neuer nuklearer Mittelstreckensysteme auszuräumen.

Hintergrund sind US-Darstellungen, es seien in den russischen Streitkräften solche Systeme neu entwickelt und auch eingeführt worden. Sollten die USA sich an den Vertrag halten, Russland jedoch nicht, gebe das Anlass zu großer Besorgnis, heißt es in der diplomatischen Sprache der Erklärung. Mit anderen Worten: Die Befürchtung, dass damit eine neue Aufrüstungsspirale in Kraft gesetzt werde. Russland hat entsprechende Vorwürfe bislang allerdings zurückgewiesen.

Aus der Erklärung des Nordatlantikrats:

For 30 years, the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty has been crucial to Euro-Atlantic security. By removing an entire class of U.S. and Russian weapons – ground-launched intermediate-range missiles – the Treaty has contributed to strategic stability and reduced the risk of miscalculation leading to conflict. As such, full compliance with the INF Treaty is essential and we remain fully committed to the preservation of this landmark arms control treaty.
The United States is in compliance with its obligations under the INF Treaty and committed to strictly implementing it. Allies have identified a Russian missile system that raises serious concerns; NATO urges Russia to address these concerns in a substantial and transparent way, and actively engage in a technical dialogue with the United States.
Allies welcome continued efforts by the United States to engage Russia in bilateral and multilateral formats, including the Special Verification Commission, to resolve concerns about Russia’s compliance with the INF Treaty. Allies emphasize that a situation whereby the United States and other parties were abiding by the treaty and Russia were not – would be a grave and urgent concern. The Alliance is united in its appreciation that effective arms control agreements remain an essential element to strategic stability and our collective security. In this spirit, our actions, including national measures taken by some Allies, seek to preserve the INF Treaty, strengthen the Alliance, and incentivize Russia to engage in good faith.

Das US-Außenministerium hatte zuletzt am 8. Dezember, dem 30. Jahrestag der Vertragsunterzeichnung, mögliche Gegenmaßnahmen der USA angesichts einer von ihnen wahrgenommenen Vertragsverletzung Russlands angekündigt:

Unfortunately, this pivotal agreement is under threat today. The Russian Federation has taken steps to develop, test, and deploy a ground-launched cruise missile system that can fly to ranges prohibited by the INF Treaty. In 2014, the United States declared the Russian Federation in violation of its obligations under the INF Treaty. Despite repeated U.S. efforts to engage the Russian Federation on this issue, Russian officials have so far refused to discuss the violation in any meaningful way or refute the information provided by the United States.
The United States remains firmly committed to the INF Treaty and continues to seek the Russian Federation’s return to compliance. The Administration firmly believes, however, that the United States cannot stand still while the Russian Federation continues to develop military systems in violation of the Treaty. While the United States will continue to pursue a diplomatic solution, we are now pursuing economic and military measures intended to induce the Russian Federation to return to compliance. This includes a review of military concepts and options, including options for conventional, ground-launched, intermediate-range missile systems, which would enable the United States to defend ourselves and our allies, should the Russian Federation not return to compliance. This step will not violate our INF Treaty obligations. We are also prepared to cease such research and development activities if the Russian Federation returns to full and verifiable compliance with its INF Treaty obligations.

Sollte es auf Seiten der USA zu einer erneuten Nutzung atomarer Mittelstreckenraketen kommen, ist absehbar, wo die vor allem stationiert werden könnten: In Mitteleuropa.

(Archivbild: Der sowjetische Generalsekretär Michail Gorbatschow, l., und US-Präsident Ronald Reagan unterzeichen am 8. Dezember 1987 den INF-Vertrag – White House Photo via Wikimedia Commons)