In Nuclear-Armed NATO, America Takes a Back Seat
Six decades after de Gaulle, France’s Macron maneuvers to take the steering wheel.
As Europeans worry that the Trump Administration will fold its nuclear umbrella protecting Europe from Russia, France is talking with European countries about extending France’s nuclear umbrella to Poland. Since the 1950s, the United States has kept American nuclear bombs in Europe with the goal of deterring Moscow from making a nuclear move.
Today, America maintains about 100 nuclear bombs in underground vaults at six NATO bases in five countries — Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Turkey. In the last two months, though, European confidence in Washington has been shaken. First, there is the Trump Administration’s tilt toward Moscow in the Russia-Ukraine war. Second, there are Mr. Trump’s public doubts about aiding NATO nations in the event of an attack by Russia.
A login link has been sent to
Enter your email to read this article.
Get 2 free articles when you subscribe.
