The World Council of Churches
and the Conference of European Churches say NATO should rethink
deterrence and security cooperation in Europe.
There are around 200 US tactical nuclear weapons stationed in Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy and Turkey.
In a joint letter to NATO, the ecumenical bodies say that the
withdrawal of the last remaining US nuclear weapons from European soil
is an important step towards a nuclear free world.
"These former ‘battlefield nuclear weapons’ are remnants of Cold War
strategies, when Europe was considered the battlefield," they said.
"We maintain that, 20 years after the end of the Cold War, NATO
should rethink deterrence and security cooperation in Europe and
decrease its reliance on nuclear weapons.
"By withdrawing these tactical nuclear weapons from Europe NATO is contributing concretely to nuclear arms control."
The WCC and CEC said that changes to NATO's nuclear policy were "long overdue".
They are disappointed with the Alliance's new Strategic Concept,
which expresses a commitment to the "goal of creating the conditions for
a world without nuclear weapons" whilst maintaining that "as long as
nuclear weapons exist, NATO will remain a nuclear Alliance".
They argue that by reducing the number of countries in the world with
nuclear weapons on their territory from 14 to 9, NATO would enhance the
credibility of its arms control and non-proliferation policy.
The two bodies are supported in their call by the National Council of
the Churches of Christ in the USA and the Canadian Council of Churches,
which also undersigned the letter.
The call comes in anticipation of an important NATO nuclear policy
review this year and reiterates recommendations they made to the
Alliance at the time of its 60th anniversary in 2009.
The church organisations said: "We understand that during this review
process serious discussions about the future of NATO nuclear policy
will take place.
"The enduring commitment to nuclear disarmament of our Councils of
Churches is a reflection of the national majorities in favour of nuclear
disarmament across the Member States of NATO.
"Thus we welcome the forthcoming close examination of NATO nuclear
policy as a new opportunity for change that is long overdue and widely
anticipated."