Information regarding the upcoming modernization of the US' nuclear arsenal in Germany has prompted a heated debate among European journalists and politicians, according to Karel Vereycken, director of the publication Nouvelle Solidarité and founder of the Lyndon LaRouche associated Belgian Agora Erasmus organization.
Reportedly, Germany will start to prepare the Büchel airbase in Western Germany to receive the upgraded version of some 20 B-61 thermo-nuclear warheads.
"Experts remain skeptical and astonished about such an early timetable, since the upgrade of the weapons was only expected to be ready in 2019. Four years to prepare an airbase for the new weapons seems farfetched and would imply that the B61-12 is scheduled to arrive sooner than expected," Vereycken told Sputnik.
"If the information is confirmed it would shock Europe into reality," Vereycken underscored.
According to the journalist, the information could have been leaked by US military officials who oppose Barack Obama's 'nuclearization' policy in Europe. Purportedly, those who released the information hoped that the leak would spark public protests in the EU.
"As initiator of the Agora Erasmus petition in Belgium, I am extremely happy about these developments since our petition is aimed exactly at creating such a public outcry. A small fly in the ear of a big bull can drive the latter crazy," Vereycken remarked with a touch of humor.
On the other hand, Washington's recent saber-rattling and muscle-flexing in Europe have attracted the attention of international observers, who consider the moves a sign of the US' increasing hostility toward Russia.
On July 1, 2015, the US conducted a flight test of a dormant B-61 12 nuclear bomb. The test was carried out as part of the US program aimed at modernizing its nuclear arsenal.
Vereycken quoted Willy Wimmer, a CDU (Christian Democratic Union of Germany) politician, who dubbed the upcoming modernization "a deliberate provocation against [Germany's] neighbor [Russia]."
Indeed, the US initiative to modernize B-61 thermo-nuclear warheads stationed in Germany has predictably prompted growing concerns in Moscow.
In an interview to Sputnik on September 22 Germany's Bundestag member Alexander Neu highlighted that the US' plans infringe on the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
"This decision is not a contribution to peace and stability in Europe. The European countries and Germany are submitting themselves once more to the US' foreign and security policy," Neu stressed.
Needless to say, Europe's consistent nuclearization has sparked fears regarding the potential cold war style nuclear arms race.
"Of course, being afraid is a good start but not enough. As [German political activist] Helga Zepp LaRouche outlines it in her call to the leaders of the world, we should all work together and make the United Nations Jubilee meeting a birthplace of universal enduring peace based on mutual development and free of the financial dictatorship which is dividing our leaders and our people," Vereycken emphasized.
