US in talks to expand "nuclear umbrella" in Europe - FT

The United States is discussing the deployment of nuclear weapons in additional European NATO states to reassure allies that the reduction in support for conventional forces does not weaken security guarantees, the Financial Times reports, according to UNN.

Details

U.S. officials "have signaled their openness to additional deployments beyond the six countries that already host nuclear-capable bombers," three people familiar with the discussions told the Financial Times.

The talks, which are highly confidential and may not lead to any changes in nuclear sharing arrangements, come amid broad concern in Europe regarding U.S. President Donald Trump's moves to withdraw American troops and critical weapons systems from the continent.

This, the publication writes, would potentially allow more countries to host so-called American Dual-Capable Aircraft (DCA), which are capable of delivering nuclear strikes. Two of the sources stated that "the openness to discussing expansion was intended to demonstrate the U.S. commitment to providing a nuclear umbrella, even as NATO allies are forced to bear more of the burden of conventional defense."

According to sources, countries on NATO's eastern flank, including Poland and some Baltic states, were interested in potentially hosting DCA bases,

Polish officials, in particular, have publicly expressed a desire to host nuclear weapons. Former President Andrzej Duda called on the U.S. to expand the DCA initiative to its territory, while Warsaw this year joined a new French initiative for the first time to explore the possibility of temporarily moving parts of its nuclear deterrent to allied European countries.

According to one person familiar with the discussions, "discussions are ongoing through NATO channels," adding that "allies closest to Russia's borders have shown the most interest."

Russia's invasion of Ukraine and Kremlin head Vladimir Putin's repeated remarks regarding the Kremlin's nuclear potential have catalyzed the interest of some allies in hosting DCA, they added.

A second person familiar with the discussions said that an agreement to expand the deployment of U.S. nuclear bombs is not imminent.

NATO's nuclear sharing program includes allies — currently Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey, and the United Kingdom — that are authorized to host American DCA and "forward-deployed" nuclear bombs. They are under U.S. protection, and Washington retains exclusive control over their use.

The arrangement, developed during the Cold War, according to NATO, "provides a platform for non-nuclear NATO allies to shape the Alliance's nuclear policy and planning as a means of ensuring their security without acquiring nuclear weapons."

U.S. nuclear weapons deployed in European states are stored and guarded by American troops. Air groups from allied countries using F-35, F-15, and Tornado fighters train to participate in exercises and missions to demonstrate combat readiness and, ultimately, deploy bombs when authorized by the U.S., the publication writes.

Recent moves by the Trump administration to cancel the planned deployment of key weapons systems in Europe and the announcement of troop withdrawals as part of moving more military assets to Asia and other regions have startled some NATO allies. They fear this will leave gaps in the continent's defense and its ability to deter or repel any attack.

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While European allies have pledged to drastically increase their defense spending and investment in key conventional military capabilities currently provided by the U.S., the "nuclear umbrella" is considered indispensable, the publication notes.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte stated after a meeting of the alliance's foreign ministers last month that there is a "common understanding that while the U.S. will focus more on other theaters of operation... the overall deterrence and defense in Europe must remain unchanged."

"Let me be absolutely clear... If someone were foolish enough to attack us, the response would be devastating," Rutte said.