Russia Has More Nuclear Weapons Than NATO

Russian President Vladimir Putin  stated that his party has more nuclear weapons than the member countries of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).

This statement is a serious threat that Putin conveyed to NATO if it continues to be involved in the Ukrainian war and supplies military weapons to Kyiv. Putin indulged in these threats at the St Petersburg International Economic Forum.

During his speech at the forum, Putin said Russia's large number of nuclear weapons would 'guarantee' its safety, noting that Russia has more such weapons than any NATO country.

Russia has a total stockpile of around 6,250 nuclear warheads as of January 2021, according to Arms Control Association data.

While the US has over 5,500, the other two NATO member states, Britain and France, have around 220 and 290 nuclear warheads respectively.

"Nuclear weapons were created to guarantee our security in a broad sense and the existence of the Russian state," Putin said as quoted by CNN, Saturday (6/17/2023).

"But firstly, it is not necessary and secondly, the facts talk about reducing the possibility of reducing the threshold for the use of this weapon," he continued.

"Also, we have more (nuclear) weapons like this than NATO countries. They know about it and they are constantly pushing towards negotiations on reduction," Putin said.

Still in his speech, Putin also said that Russia had destroyed tanks 'including the Leopard' on the front line.

"And if they are based abroad, but are used in combat, we will see how to attack them, and where we can attack the means used against us in battle," Putin said.

"This is a serious danger of drawing NATO further into this military conflict," he added.

Meanwhile, in February, Putin announced he would suspend Russia's participation in the New START nuclear arms reduction treaty with the United States, jeopardizing the latest pact governing the world's two largest nuclear arsenals.

However, the Russian Foreign Ministry later said the decision was "cancellable".

The treaty limits the number of intercontinental-range nuclear weapons that the US and Russia can possess. It was last extended in early 2021 for five years.

Under the major nuclear arms control treaties, both the United States and Russia are permitted to conduct inspections of each other's weapons sites.