The Romanian Foreign Ministry yesterday denied reports claiming the United States has moved its nuclear weapons from Turkey to Romania.

Russia Today news channel cited an earlier report by EurActiv online news site claiming the United States has started transferring 20 nuclear warheads stationed in Turkey to Romania, against the background of worsening relations between Washington and Ankara.

According to the site, Washington was transporting its nuclear weapons to the US base at Deveselu near the city of Caracal.

During the failed coup attempt last month, Turkey banned US jets from flying to and from Incirlik Air Base which raised questions about the extent of Washington’s ability to keep these weapons in the event of a prolonged internal conflict.