NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg told reporters Thursday that Russia's deployment of nuclear weapons to Belarus has so far not changed NATO's nuclear posture.
But Stoltenberg said Russia's nuclear rhetoric is "reckless and dangerous" and NATO is closely monitoring how for changes in Moscow's nuclear posture.
"Russia must know that a nuclear war cannot be won and must never be fought," Stoltenberg said in reply to a reporter's question. "And we are, of course, closely monitoring what Russia is doing. So far, we haven't seen any changes in the nuclear posture that requires any changes in our posture."
The United States, a NATO member, said it had also not adjusted its nuclear posture, but the Biden administration has called the move "irresponsible and provocative."
Stoltenberg said Russia has invested heavily in new modern nuclear weapons and has deployed them close to NATO borders, including in Europe's high north. NATO has responded by increasing force readiness and beefing up its military presence in the alliance's east.
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