The US is discussing with Europe the deployment of nuclear weapons in several NATO countries / Which are the most interested

The United States is looking into the possibility of deploying nuclear weapons in other European NATO member states, in a move to reassure allies that cutting conventional military support does not weaken security guarantees, according to sources in the Financial Times.

U.S. officials have expressed readiness for additional deployments beyond the existing six countries that host nuclear-capable bombers, three people briefed on the discussions told the British publication.

The talks, which are highly confidential and may not lead to any changes to nuclear-sharing agreements, come amid widespread concern in Europe over moves by Donald Trump to withdraw US troops and critical weapons systems from the continent.

This would potentially allow more countries to host so-called US dual-capable aircraft (DCA), which are capable of launching nuclear strikes.

“Countries on NATO's Eastern Flank”, most interested

Two of the publication's sources said the openness to discussing an expansion of the “nuclear” presence is intended to demonstrate US commitment to providing a nuclear umbrella, even as NATO allies have been pushed to shoulder a greater share of the burden of conventional defense.

Countries on NATO's eastern flank, including Poland and some Baltic states, are interested in hosting DCA bases, the sources said.

Talks are ongoing through NATO channels, a person familiar with the talks said, adding that the allies closest to Russia's borders have shown the most interest. Romania's name is not mentioned in the Financial Times material.

• Russia and the United States are the world's largest nuclear powers, each possessing more than 5,000 nuclear warheads. China has about 600, France 290 and Britain 225, according to the Federation of American Scientists.

Only two European countries have their own nuclear weapons

In March of this year, France offered to extend the protection of its nuclear umbrella to other European countries.

At the end of May, President Emmanuel Macron announced that Norway had decided to join the “advanced nuclear deterrent” proposed by France to its European allies.

At least for now, France cannot replace the nuclear deterrent capability offered by the US, experts in the field said.

It is certain, however, that the proposal of Paris, which came against the background of the uncertainty of the transatlantic relationship, caused dissatisfaction in Moscow.

Apart from France, there is only one other nation in Europe with nuclear weapons of its own: Great Britain. The difference is that the Paris arsenal is sovereign – that is, developed entirely by France – while the British rely on US technical input.