European states have begun discussing the possibility of forming their own nuclear deterrence system for the first time since the end of the Cold War, amid doubts about the reliability of U.S. military support. Bloomberg reports this, citing sources.

Currently, Europe's security is ensured by the U.S. "nuclear umbrella," which includes American weapons deployed in European countries. However, only France and the United Kingdom possess their own nuclear arsenals on the continent.

According to the agency, French President Emmanuel Macron may soon propose extending French nuclear deterrence forces to allies in Europe. The corresponding statement is expected to be made at the Munich Security Conference, taking place from February 13 to 15, or later this month.

However, replacing the U.S. "nuclear umbrella" with a French one could be extremely costly for European countries. Bloomberg estimates that in 2025, EU countries and the UK have already allocated over $530 billion for defense, primarily to strengthen conventional armed forces.

France and the UK together have approximately 400 deployed nuclear warheads, while the U.S. has about 1,670. This figure may increase after the expiration of the Russian-U.S. New START treaty.

Agency sources note that individual European states could theoretically create their own elements of nuclear capability, but this would require nuclear power plants, expensive uranium enrichment facilities, and political willingness to violate international non-proliferation agreements.

Meanwhile, as Bloomberg emphasizes, Washington's statements about the need for greater European autonomy in defense primarily concern conventional weapons. U.S. President Donald Trump has not publicly or in private negotiations raised the issue of ending American nuclear deterrence.

Source: kun.uz