Britain considers long-range missiles to counter Putin's nuclear threat - The Times

Britain is considering developing long-range missiles that can take out President Putin's nuclear weapons launched from inside Russia as fears mount in Europe that he may be prepared to use them.

That's according to The Times, Ukrinform reports.

The UK has signaled it will work with Germany to build a weapon with a range of about 2,000 miles (3,200 kilometers), diplomatic sources disclosed. Allies envisage the weapon being able to travel from as far as Berlin to Moscow in the event that Putin decides to launch tactical nuclear weapons.

John Healey, the defense secretary, is understood to have discussed the project with his German counterpart in Berlin on Wednesday, July 24. He was there as part of a 48-hour diplomatic tour around Europe to bolster cooperation between the UK and its allies and push his "NATO-first" defense strategy.

Under the plans, the long-range missiles would be stationed in Germany, replacing U.S. missiles set to be placed there from next year.

A diplomatic source said recent statements by Putin and others suggested Russia was reducing its threshold for using tactical nuclear weapons and described it as a "worrying development."

Earlier this month the US and Germany announced during the Nato summit in Washington that long-range US missiles would be deployed periodically in Germany for the first time since the Cold War. The decision was met with an angry response from Moscow.

Illustration photo: Norwegian cruise missile NSM, Kongsberg