US moves nuclear weapons from Turkey to Romania

[vostok]

EXCLUSIVE/ Two independent sources told EurActiv.com that the US has started transferring nuclear weapons stationed in Turkey to Romania, against the background of worsening relations between Washington and Ankara .

According to one of the sources, the transfer has been very challenging in technical and political terms.

“It’s not easy to move 20+ nukes,” said the source, on conditions of anonymity.

According to a recent report by the Simson Center, since the Cold War, some 50 US tactical nuclear weapons have been stationed at Turkey’s Incirlik air base, approximately 100 kilometres from the Syrian border.

During the failed coup in Turkey in July, Incirlik’s power was cut, and the Turkish government prohibited US aircraft from flying in or out. Eventually, the base commander was arrested and implicated in the coup. Whether the US could have maintained control of the weapons in the event of a protracted civil conflict in Turkey is an unanswerable question, the report says.

Another source told EurActiv.com that the US-Turkey relations had deteriorated so much following the coup that Washington no longer trusted Ankara to host the weapons. The American weapons are being moved to the Deveselu air base in Romania, the source said.

Deveselu, near the city of Caracal, is the new home of the US missile shield, which has infuriated Russia.
...
http://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/us-moves-nuclear-weapons-from-turkey-to-romania/

 

[maximuswarrior]

Things are getting sour for the US. Slowly but surely the US is losing allies everywhere.

Now watch how Russia will react to this latest move. Moving nukes to Romania isn't a very smart move by the US.

 

[damm1t]

“It’s not easy to move 20+ nukes,” said the source

Why only 20+ ? Take them all 50.

 

[maximuswarrior]

Why only 20+ ? Take them all 50.

They say it is a technical and political challenge.

According to one of the sources, the transfer has been very challenging in technical and political terms.

 

[Steve781]

Why Romania? Poland makes more sense as a choice.

 

[ebrahym]

EXCLUSIVE/ Two independent sources told EurActiv.com that the US has started transferring nuclear weapons stationed in Turkey to Romania, against the background of worsening relations between Washington and Ankara .

According to one of the sources, the transfer has been very challenging in technical and political terms.

“It’s not easy to move 20+ nukes,” said the source, on conditions of anonymity.

According to a recent report by the Simson Center, since the Cold War, some 50 US tactical nuclear weapons have been stationed at Turkey’s Incirlik air base, approximately 100 kilometres from the Syrian border.

During the failed coup in Turkey in July, Incirlik’s power was cut, and the Turkish government prohibited US aircraft from flying in or out. Eventually, the base commander was arrested and implicated in the coup. Whether the US could have maintained control of the weapons in the event of a protracted civil conflict in Turkey is an unanswerable question, the report says.

Another source told EurActiv.com that the US-Turkey relations had deteriorated so much following the coup that Washington no longer trusted Ankara to host the weapons. The American weapons are being moved to the Deveselu air base in Romania, the source said.

Deveselu, near the city of Caracal, is the new home of the US missile shield, which has infuriated Russia.
...
http://www.euractiv.com/section/global-europe/news/us-moves-nuclear-weapons-from-turkey-to-romania/

the coup is making more and more sense now

 

[maximuswarrior]

Why Romania? Poland makes more sense as a choice.

Perhaps due to its geographical location? The Russians aren't going to appreciate this move one bit.

 

[CrimsonFury]

Good. Atleast they won't have a excuse of "WMDs in Turkey let's have another freedom rave!".

 

[XILLAX]

Strong denial by Romania

The Romanian foreign ministry strongly denied the information that the country has become home of US nukes. “In response to your request, Romanian MFA firmly dismisses the information you referred to,” a spokesperson wrote.

According to practice dating from the Cold War, leaked information regarding the presence of US nuclear weapons on European soil has never been officially confirmed. It is, however, public knowledge that Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Italy host US nuclear weapons.

After the failed putsch, relations between Washington and Ankara are at their worst since Turkey joined NATO in 1952. Ankara believes the US government supports the Turkish US-exiled cleric Fethullah Gülen, whom it accuses of having masterminded the failed coup. Turkey is demanding Gülen’s extradition, and the issue is expected to take center stage when US Vice President Joe Biden visits Turkey on 24 August.

Arthur H. Hughes, a retired US ambassador, wrote in EurActiv yesterday (17 August) that Gülen has indeed received considerable assistance from the CIA.

U should post the rest too

 

[flamer84]

Not true.Miserable Russian propaganda.

 

[anon45]

wrong sources, whoever they are. Denied by Romania.

 

[damm1t]

Not true.Miserable Russian propaganda.

Romania has no choice right) Probably nukes will be moved secretly.

 

[flamer84]

Romania has no choice right) Probably nukes will be moved secretly.

I won't mind if they are,our strategic value will only grow but this is not the case yet.Romania is a reliable US ally.

Everyone has a choice,if Bulgaria refused cooperation with NATO in the Black Sea against Russia,Romania can refuse nukes on its territory to.But,if the case would be made,I'm pretty sure we won't refuse.Romania wants NATO troops and weapons in here.

 

[Olaf One-Brow]

This is not true. Here's why:

Beyond the unprecedented political and policy complications that would come with establishing a U.S. nuclear presence in Romania—including the impact it would have on already-shaky Russian-Romanian relations—there would be physical issues with transporting, storing, and deploying the weapons from Deveselu Air Base.

First off, Deveselu Air Base is effectively no longer an air base at all. Its 8,500-foot runway was eliminated as part of the Aegis Ashore facility construction plan and the surrounding infrastructure that was built up around it.

This means the weapons would have to flown into another airport located dozens or hundreds of miles away, then moved by road to Deveselu. Such a complicated logistical scenario would represent a massive set of security issues, both at the non-U.S.-controlled airfield and along the route during ground transport. Helicopters such as the CH-47 or CH-53 could be used, but doing so would require a deployment to Romania. In addition, using vertical-lift assets for this type of mission would represent a host of security and health contingencies that would have to be addressed at length.

And because there is no runway at Deveselu, how would said tactical nuclear bombs even be put to use during a time of war? They would have to transferred to another facility equipped with a long runway, where they would meet tactical aircraft that would have to deploy there on sudden notice (likely days, not hours), along with personnel and equipment that would enable a sortie to be executed. And once at that airport or air base, where would the weapons be safely stored?

Even the nuclear weapons stored at Incirlik Air Base in Turkey have questionable utility, as there are no aircraft assigned or consistently rotated through there with trained crews waiting for the doomsday klaxon to sound. But at least the capability could theoretically be provided on a relatively short notice. At Deceselu, even that would be impossible.


Then there is the question of how these nukes would be stored at Deveselu in the first place? The base lacks the WS3 vaults designed for this purpose, as it is only meant to be equipped with SM-3 hit-to-kill interceptors. So unless the base has a secret storage facility, it cannot contain thermonuclear weapons in a manner up to the needed standards of security.

So when you take all this into account, all the evidence seems to point to the conclusion that EurActiv’s report is likely false.

...

So let's recap:

1. There is no runway at the Romanian base that could be used to receive or launch aircraft carrying nuclear weapons without the use of vertical lift aircraft, which puts the viability and usefulness of those weapons in doubt.

No nuclear capable aircraft or crews rotate through Turkey on a regular basis either.

The runway was demolished to make room for an Aegis Ashore battery.

2. There are no viable storage facilities to house the weapons themselves.

3. There is no support infrastructure for technicians, medical or support personal that could service the weapons and those that handle them.

Taken together, this news can't and shouldn't be trusted.

 

[T-Rex]

They say it is a technical and political challenge.

According to one of the sources, the transfer has been very challenging in technical and political terms.

What does it mean?