NATO plans to expand nuclear deterrence in Europe “in light of the ongoing threats from Russia under President Vladimir Putin,” reported DPA, the German press agency. “This includes considerations whether to deploy additional US nuclear weapons in Europe.” DPA makes reference to evidence–dating from July 2025–that the US may have already transferred B61-12 nuclear gravity bombs to RAF Lakenheath in the UK. “Should the security situation deteriorate further, NATO countries located closer to Russia, including Poland, Finland and Lithuania, could also be considered as additional basing locations,” DPA says further. Not said is that Russia will see the expansion of NATO’s nuclear arsenal as provocative as NATO expansion has been. Therefore, the deployment of additional nuclear weapons to Europe, particularly to locations close to Russia, will not serve as a “deterrent” but might function as a provocation.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, in a mid-July interview with DPA, did not rule out that more US nuclear weapons could be stationed in Europe in future, but declined to discuss the details of such discussions for reasons of secrecy. All he would say is that the alliance was continuously assessing what capabilities were required and what the alliance’s nuclear deterrence mix should look like. “In the end we have to be sure that no one can attack us with nuclear weapons without us being able to respond.”
