Europe is thinking about its own nuclear weapons

Europe discusses its own nuclear deterrent amid doubts about US support

A group of European states has started discussing options for the formation of of its own nuclear deterrent, as confidence in the reliability of the United States as a key ally has been shaken. This was reported by Bloomberg.

Who already has nuclear weapons in Europe

Currently, among the European countries own nuclear arsenal have only:

• France

• United Kingdom

Extending their «nuclear umbrella» to other allies would mean that these states would be ready to take a potential blow in the case of protecting partners.

Can Europe create a new nuclear power?

In theory, individual European countries are able to develop own nuclear weapons, However, such a move would have serious consequences:

• violation of international agreements on non-proliferation;

• huge financial costs to create and maintain an arsenal;

• political risks to the global security system.

This makes the implementation of such scenarios difficult for most countries on the continent.

Context.

The issue of European defence autonomy is increasingly being discussed against the backdrop of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine and changes in the global security architecture.

Discussions about Nuclear deterrence in Europe indicate deeper strategic doubts about the future role of the United States in NATO's collective security system.