DISINFO: Romania prepares to deploy US nuclear weapons on its territory
SUMMARY
The acquisition by Bucharest of F-35 Lightning II is a preparation for the deployment of US nuclear weapons on Romanian territory, which will create new threats to the countries of the Black Sea region and neighbouring Moldova.
The result will be an asymmetric Russian response, a decrease in the security of neighbouring countries, many years of regional turbulence, and a growing likelihood of a nuclear apocalypse in Romania.
RESPONSE
Pro-Kremlin disinformation narrative, part of a broader nuclear fear-mongering campaign. While Romanian authorities have approved a plan to acquire F-35 Lightning II fighter jets for the country’s air force, there is no evidence to suggests that Romania would be planning to place nuclear weapons on its territory.
The US and Romania are strong Allies and partners. In 2005, the U.S. and Romania signed a defence cooperation agreement establishing a framework for the activities of U.S. military forces. This agreement enables U.S. military access to several bases in Romania and facilitates defence cooperation and joint military exercises.
Romania ratified the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) in 1970. The non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction (WMD) – chemical, biological, nuclear, and radiological – represents a fundamental objective related to the multilateral dimension of Romanian foreign policy.
NATO’s nuclear policy is based on compliance with the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) considered by NATO member states as the cornerstone of the international nuclear non-proliferation regime. The Allies have emphasized on different occasions (including during the Defence Ministerial Meeting in June 2020) that NATO has no intention to deploy new land-based nuclear missiles in Europe.
Nuclear weapons owned by the US have been deployed in Europe since the mid-1950s. Beyond the alliance’s three nuclear powers (US, UK, France), five others participate in U.S. nuclear sharing: Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey. NATO nuclear sharing agreement is compliant with the NPT.
See other examples of similar disinformation narratives in our database, such as claims that NATO destroyed trust in the new START treaty, that Western leaders’ nuclear rhetoric is becoming increasingly ferocious, that Ukraine asked NATO for pre-emptive nuclear strikes against Russia, or that Russia doesn’t threaten anyone with nuclear weapons.