The United States is said to be considering expanding its nuclear weapons capabilities to more European NATO members.
Six NATO members – Britain, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium and Turkey – currently form part of the alliance’s nuclear weapons-sharing agreement and have been authorized to host dual-capable US aircraft capable of deploying nuclear missiles.
But the group could include more European NATO members, the Financial Times reported, citing three people briefed on the confidential discussions.
Analysts say the move will boost the profile of certain defense companies involved in the manufacturing, maintenance and parts supply chain of dual-capable aircraft. BAE Systems, lockheed martin and rolls royce.
BAE Systems.
The FT report said people familiar with the matter have suggested that NATO eastern bloc countries such as Poland and some Baltic states – to which President Donald Trump pledged to send thousands of new troops last month – may be interested in receiving the nuclear-capable bomber.
The potential expansion comes as the White House seeks to scale back traditional military support for the alliance and as Europe seeks to reduce its dependence on the United States by increasing defense spending amid concerns about U.S. commitment to security agreements.
A NATO official told CNBC that NATO is “continuously monitoring” the security environment and “adapting as necessary.”
The official added that “work to assess and potentially adapt NATO’s nuclear deterrence posture has been ongoing for several years, but is not linked to any decisions taken by the United States to adjust its conventional posture in Europe.”
Dan Coatsworth, head of markets at AJ Bell, said a large-scale nuclear deployment in Europe would require more dual-capability aircraft such as the F-35, which can carry both nuclear and conventional weapons.
He said the UK was a “major player” in the global supply chain for these jets, highlighting the following key names: BAE SystemsCobham; kinetic and rolls royce. Other companies outside the UK that are involved in manufacturing the F-35 jet include: lockheed martin, Northrop Grumman and RTX.
Lockheed Martin.
“These aircraft cost a lot of money just to fly, and even more when you factor in ongoing maintenance,” Coatsworth told CNBC via email. “The increased deployment of nuclear weapons in Europe could therefore create significant profit opportunities for many companies and create many new jobs.”
NATO chief Mark Rutte last week pledged to step up the alliance’s preparedness to “deter and defend against any threat” after a Russian drone struck an apartment building in Romania, a member of NATO and the European Union.
“NATO stands ready to defend every inch of Allied territory,” Rutte said in a post on X, calling Russia’s actions “reckless” and “dangerous to all of us.”
CNBC has reached out to the Department of Defense for comment.
