Nato allies announce £37bn for new missile project
BBC World →Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer will convene around a dozen leaders to discuss the programme in Ankara.
NATO Chiefs Favor Doubled Europe Force
PARIS, April 16, 1961.—NATO's defense ministers agreed unanimously today that Western ground strength in Europe must be doubled and their forces equipped with arms that can deliver nuclear warheads against a Communist attack. Speaking in succession, the ministers from the North Atlantic treaty countries approved in principle the report submitted by NATO's supreme commander in Europe, United States Gen. Lauris Norstad. He said he needed at least 25 to 30 ground divisions in Europe and at present has only about half that number. Persons attending the closed meeting said some ministers expressed doubt the money could be found to give Gen. Norstad what he wants. But all gave their unanimous backing to the report. Conference Next Month The recommendations go to the NATO foreign ministers conference in Copenhagen next month. If approved there, it will be up to the 15 individual governments to carry them out. Considerable opposition back home was anticipated, since the popular trend today is toward a slackening of the arms race with Russia. NATO's goal for years has been 80 divisions. Gen. Norstad also recommended that the NATO force be trained in the use of dual- purpose weapons, particularly rockets, equipped with conventional warheads but which could be converted to nuclear weapons in the event of an attack. United States Defense Secretary Neil McElroy assured the ministers that the United States would furnish the necessary nuclear firepower if Congress
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PGM-17 Thor
Deployment of the IRBM fleet to Europe proved more difficult than expected, as no NATO members other than the UK accepted the offer to have Thor missiles stationed on their soil. Thor was deployed to the UK starting in August 1958, operated by 20 squadrons of RAF Bomber Command under US-UK dual key control.
Wikipedia →Berlin Crisis of 1958–1959
Annoyed by the U.S. locating nuclear missiles at American bases in West Germany, he sought bargaining leverage to reverse that threat. Khrushchev sought to find a lasting solution to the problem of a divided Germany and of the enclave of West Berlin deep within East German territory. In November 1958, calling West Berlin a 'malignant tumor', he gave the United States a six-month ultimatum.
Wikipedia →State visit by Nikita Khrushchev to the United States
Nikita Khrushchev paid a state visit to the United States from 15 to 27 September 1959. It marked the first state visit of a Soviet leader to the United States. In early August of that year, it was announced by President Dwight Eisenhower that Khrushchev was invited to visit the United States, and did so that September, spending thirteen days in the country.
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