Telegraphy

• In August 2023, nuclear weapons researchers Matt Korda and Hans Kristensen of the Federation of American Scientists reported it was increasingly apparent the United States was upgrading its Lakenheath military base in the United Kingdom.
• This base hosted American nuclear weapons in the past, which raises questions about whether they’re returning.
• Through these arrangements, the U.S. has stationed some of its nuclear weapons on its allies’ territory since the early days of the Cold War.

Hosting American nukes

• At its height in the 1960s, 13 states hosted American nuclear weapons at the same time, including Canada.
• Yet in the last few decades, this number has gradually dwindled to only five NATO members: Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey.
• The nuclear weapons hosted by the five participants are B61 gravity bombs and can be delivered by aircraft, such as German and Italian Tornados, F-22s and the newer American F-35s.

High international threat environment

• Russia’s war against Ukraine has fundamentally altered the international security environment.
• Whereas the post-Cold War security environment had made NATO members question the relevance of nuclear sharing, recent events have reignited the debate on the alliance’s nuclear capabilities.
• Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, that is no longer the case: consensus among nuclear sharing participants has been strengthened.
• In a forthcoming research article in International Affairs, we surmise this kind of reinforcement or expansion of nuclear sharing could be the result of the Ukraine war and the changing threat perception of NATO members, which has slowed down the political momentum of anti-nuclear voices.

Nuclear sharing remains contentious

• Ever since the 2000s, there has been considerable pressure coming from citizens in NATO nations to withdraw from nuclear sharing.
• Much like any other political arrangement, however, NATO’s nuclear sharing arrangement can be contentious and subject to renegotiations, as shown by Poland’s demands to also host American nuclear weapons.

Émile Lambert-Deslandes receives funding from the Department of National Defence's MINDS program and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada. Stéfanie von Hlatky has received funding from the NATO Science For Peace and Security Programme for research on Women, Peace, and Security.