Blunder reveals sites of US nuclear weapons in Europe

THE European sites where America’s nuclear weapons are stored have been inadvertently revealed in a document published by a Nato-linked body, according to Belgian media.

The document, which was written for the defence and security committee of the Nato parliamentary assembly, made passing reference to the roughly 150 US nuclear weapons being stored in Europe.

“These bombs are stored at six US and European bases – Kleine Brogel in Belgium, Büchel in Germany, Aviano and Ghedi-torre in Italy, Volkel in the Netherlands, and Incirlik in Turkey,” one line read, according to the Belgian newspaper De Morgen.

The reference was reportedly contained in the original version of the document which was published in April but has since been removed in a final version which went out last week.

The document, “A new era for nuclear deterrence? Modernisation, arms control and allied nuclear forces”, was written by a Canadian senator.

A Nato official told The Washington Post that the document was not from Nato itself, and had been published by the group’s parliamentary assembly.

The official added: “We do not comment on the details of Nato’s nuclear posture.”

The presence of US nuclear weapons in Europe acted as a deterrent to the Soviet Union throughout the Cold War and also meant that European countries did not need to develop their own versions.

‘These bombs are stored at six bases – in Belgium, Germany, Italy, The Netherlands and Turkey’

The exact locations of the weapons have been a secret although experts say their presence was widely known in the international community.

The blunder was picked up by the European press.

Dutch broadcaster RTL News ran an article headlined “Nato reveals the Netherlands’ worst-kept secret”. The report from De Morgen read, “Finally, in black and white: there are American nuclear weapons in Belgium.”