EU considers strengthening nuclear arsenal amid doubts about US support

Citing six senior officials, the outlet reports that EU leaders are discussing whether to rely more on France and the United Kingdom instead of the United States. Three of them said that even the development of their own nuclear weapons is being considered.

According to the sources, French President Emmanuel Macron, whose country is the only EU member with nuclear weapons, is expected to deliver an important speech on the issue in the coming weeks.

"We are discussing how to protect Europe with a nuclear deterrent with or without the United States," one European official said.

Another described the discussions among European leaders on how to protect against a nuclear-armed Russia without the United States as "intense and productive."

Emma Belcher, an arms control expert, said Europe is experiencing "a crisis of confidence."

"We've had this system of extended deterrence and the US promise to allies that if they're attacked with a nuclear weapon, the United States would respond," she said.

At the same time, Belcher noted that the problem now is that "it only works if allies believe that the US commitment is real."

What options Europe is considering

According to three officials, European countries are considering several options. These include upgrading France's nuclear weapons, redeploying French nuclear-armed bombers outside the country, as well as strengthening French and other European armed forces on NATO's eastern flank.

Another option being discussed is providing EU countries that do not have nuclear programs with the technical capabilities to acquire them.

The outlet writes that having technical capabilities for the potential creation of nuclear weapons would not violate the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. At the same time, concrete steps such as producing highly enriched uranium would violate the provisions of the document.

In the US, the European idea is seen as "ridiculous"

A former senior US official said that France and Britain do not have sufficient military power to deter Russia on their own and called the idea "ridiculous." According to him, European countries' nuclear stockpiles are "pitiful" because they have not maintained them for decades and relied on US nuclear protection.

Some European officials are also skeptical that France could become a reliable alternative to the US nuclear arsenal. They fear that any changes Macron commits to could be reversed depending on who wins the 2027 French elections.

NBC News reports that one British official declined to comment directly on European countries' discussions about nuclear weapons.

"Our posture is in constant review and responds to evolving threats," he said.

It is noted that Britain, unlike France, is largely dependent on the US military when it comes to nuclear missiles and other support for its arsenal.

In October 2025, Donald Trump, for the first time in 33 years, announced his intention to resume nuclear testing. He instructed the Pentagon to conduct tests of the US nuclear arsenal "on an equal basis" with other nuclear powers.

In addition, Trump said that the United States has a larger nuclear arsenal and better weapons than Russia.