USA: “Tiger Team” examines possible use of Moscow’s ABC weapons

What was just pure theory a month ago now seems by no means unthinkable: Putin could use his most powerful weapons, the NBC weapons (weapons of mass destruction). In the Ukraine war, the Russian army is not having the success that Moscow is hoping for and is not living up to its position of power. The use of such weapons would have devastating consequences.

For fear of a possible use of nuclear weapons, the White House has therefore set up a team of national security officials. It deals with the question of how the West would react to a possible nuclear attack by Russia, reports the New York Times.

The so-called Tiger Team is also examining scenarios of how the United States and its allies would react if the Russian army attacked convoys carrying arms and aid supplies in NATO territory. The contingency team is also reviewing responses to the spread of war in countries close to Ukraine, such as Moldova and Georgia.

The Tiger Team, which has formed an emergency task force within the National Security Council for years, was assembled four days after the war began. The security officers involved remain anonymous to carry out the delicate planning. The team plays a pivotal role in drafting tough sanctions, increasing troops in NATO countries and arming Ukraine’s military.

The team meetings, which take place three times a week, also deal with how to cope with the huge influx of refugees to Europe. According to the UN Refugee Agency, more than 3.7 million people have fled Ukraine since the war began about a month ago – a scale like this was last seen decades ago.

USA: Senator warns Russia of “consequences”

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Wednesday that even if Russia only used weapons of mass destruction inside Ukraine, this could have “terrible consequences” for the people of NATO countries. Accordingly, there is a fear that chemical or radioactive clouds could be driven across the border. It is still unclear whether such an approach will be seen as an attack on NATO. An important question is the criteria according to which NATO intervenes militarily in the Ukraine war.

Senator Jack Reed, a Rhode Island Democrat who chairs the Armed Services Committee, announced that if Russia used weapons of mass destruction “there would be consequences.” “It’s going to be a very difficult decision, but it’s a decision that not just the president but the entire NATO Council has to make,” Reed told reporters.

So far, however, US President Joe Biden has been very cautious, fearing that a direct confrontation with Russia could lead to a further escalation. “That would be World War III,” he remarked recently. Still, the US government believes it would be a mistake not to look carefully at what thresholds the president would reverse his decision, a US official said. He should be prepared to deal with the consequences of using weapons of mass destruction.

Use of ABC weapons apparently unlikely

Should Putin deliberately attack a NATO state, NATO would intervene militarily — likely in Ukraine as well, Latvian Defense Minister Artis Pabriks told reporters. But he doesn’t think “that he should be so stupid”.

The White House is certain that by invading Ukraine, Putin made a grave mistake that could tarnish Russia’s standing, set back its economy, and alienate potential allies for years to come. Therefore, there is concern about Putin’s further course of action. For he will want to salvage his failing military action or restore his credibility as a feared power. So far, however, the probability that Russia will actually use nuclear weapons has been considered low.

Sources: , with material from the dpa