EU weighs nuclear rearmament amid concerns over Trump’s policy shift – Politico
Photo: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron (Getty Images)
Several European countries are publicly supporting negotiations on creating their own nuclear weapons in addition to American atomic weapons amid declining trust in the United States under Donald Trump’s leadership, reports Politico.
Read also: NATO warns Europe cannot deter Russia without American support
Senior officials from two Baltic countries told Politico that, although they still view NATO as the cornerstone of nuclear deterrence, they are now ready to discuss Europe’s own role.
This has given new momentum to debates that were heard both in public speeches and in private conversations at the Munich Security Conference. The growing pressure to begin a serious discussion about nuclear weapons in Europe is a response to shaken confidence that the United States would repel a Russian attack.
These doubts were not dispelled even after a speech by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, which was delivered in a relatively conciliatory tone.
Estonian Undersecretary for Defence Policy Tuuli Duneton said that her country does not rule out participating in negotiations on a unified nuclear deterrence in Europe at an early stage.
“We are always open to discuss,” she said, while emphasizing that the United States remains “committed to providing nuclear deterrence for allied nations.”
Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa supported this view.
“Nuclear deterrence can give us new opportunities. Why not?” she said, warning that any steps must comply with international commitments.
Trump has questioned Article 5 of the NATO Charter on collective defense, mocked allies’ contributions to the US-led war in Afghanistan, and repeatedly called for the annexation of Greenland, which belongs to Denmark (a NATO member). Reportedly, this is pushing Europe to seek what officials call "another layer of insurance” against Moscow.
The article notes that in practice, this means turning to France and the United Kingdom — Europe’s only nuclear powers. Unlike London, Paris is not part of NATO’s Nuclear Planning Group, which discusses the use of nuclear force within the alliance. French presidents have repeatedly emphasized that France’s national interests have a European dimension, but insisted that any launch decision is made exclusively by Paris.
Both German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron addressed European nuclear deterrence in their speeches in Munich.
But not everyone agrees with this course. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez acknowledged that Europe must become stronger to deter Russia, but said that nuclear rearmament is the wrong path.
US Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Elbridge Colby said that America is not withdrawing its nuclear umbrella from the continent, although Washington wants Europe to step up its conventional defense.
Earlier, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated that Germany and France are holding talks on European nuclear deterrence.
