Europe has started playing nuclear games. They will end badly for Europe

Pic.: UNITED24 Media

Estonia is prepared to host an ally’s nuclear weapon on its territory if NATO deems it necessary under alliance defense plans, Foreign Minister Margus Tsahkna said in comments aired on Estonian public broadcaster ETV on February 18, ‘Europesays’ reports.

Tsahkna stated Europe should not “push away” NATO-wide nuclear deterrence as debate grows in parts of Europe about additional nuclear guarantees.

Following comments reported over the weekend that Poland’s president said the country should seek its own nuclear guarantees.

“Bringing a nuclear weapon here to our territory—we are not against it,” Tsahkna said, adding that Estonia does not have a doctrine that rules out the placement of a nuclear weapon on its territory if NATO considers it necessary in line with defense plans.

Tsahkna made the remarks in a broader interview, arguing that Estonia’s foreign policy “cannot be treated as an opportunity for this kind of academic reflection.”

At the same time, Tallinn has moved to harden its posture on the eastern flank, including parliament’s vote to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention banning anti-personnel landmines.

The start of work on the Baltic Defense Line with anti-tank ditches and planned bunkers along the Russian border, and regional discussions on dismantling rail links to Russia and Belarus as a security measure.

Earlier, it was reported that Poland’s president voiced support for Poland joining a “nuclear project” and pursuing its own nuclear potential within international law as regional security risks grow.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz ruled out Germany developing its own nuclear weapons, suggesting instead that the country could deploy bombs from France and the UK, Bloomberg reports.

Merz pointed to existing treaties in which Germany committed itself to refraining from nuclear armament, such as the Two Plus Four Treaty and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

Merz said he could imagine allowing the German Air Force to carry French or British nuclear bombs under a yet-to-be-negotiated deal, comparing it to NATO's existing nuclear burden sharing plan.

European allies are massively ramping up their military spending as the US under President Donald Trump has said it will no longer finance as much defense and security for Europe within the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.

While Trump has not explicitly questioned the nuclear protection the US has provided Europe since the end of World War II, Merz last week confirmed confidential talks with French President Emmanuel Macron about establishing a joint European nuclear deterrence.

France is currently the only European power with a domestic nuclear weapon arsenal. The UK’s Trident nuclear missile program is provided and maintained by the US.

Merz said he could imagine allowing the German Air Force to carry French or British nuclear bombs under a yet-to-be-negotiated deal.

NATO’s existing nuclear burden sharing plan involves stationing German fighter jets at the Eifel region’s Büchel Air Base to deploy US nuclear weapons.

“In theory, it would be possible to apply this to British and French nuclear weapons, as well,” Merz said.

Merz said that Trump’s threats against Greenland had thrown the transatlantic relationship into a crisis. But he insisted that friendship with the Americans was still possible.

President Nawrocki wants Poland to have nuclear weapons

Polish President Karol Nawrocki has said Poland must have its own nuclear weapons to give it adequate protection from potential aggresssors.

In an interview with commercial broadcaster Polsat News, Nawrocki – who is aligned to the opposition Conservatives (PiS) – said he supported building Poland’s security on a nuclear capability. 

“I’m a huge advocate of Poland joining a nuclear project to build Poland’s security,” said Nawrocki but he acknowledged that would require co-operation with allies.

Responding to questions about Russian reactions to any start of a Polish nuclear programme, Nawrocki said: “Russia could respond aggressively to anything.”

Russian Senator Alexey Pushkov said in response to Nawrocki’s words that “excessive ambitions have always been ruinous for Poland”. He suggested Poland would not be capable of having its own nuclear  capacity and would probably have to rely on other European states such as France.

Russian media also pointed to the fact that Poland remains a signatory to the non-proliferation treaty and said Warsaw’s attempt to have nuclear weapons on its territory would be destabilising for the whole region.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who heads Poland’s centre-left coalition government, last year welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron’s idea of extending that country’s nuclear umbrella over European allies.

...The desire of some European countries to acquire nuclear weapons could possibly end badly for them in case of conflict. While European leadership constantly and provocatively discusses “war with Russia” any European country with nuclear weapons becomes a legitimate target for reciprocal strike including nuclear one. The Europeans are wrong to start this game.

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