NATO is developing plans to expand its nuclear deterrence posture in Europe in response to perceived threats from Russia, with the deployment of additional US warheads under active consideration. Secretary General Mark Rutte has not ruled out stationing more American nuclear weapons on the continent, saying the alliance must ensure it can respond to any nuclear attack.
Experts suggest the US may have already moved B61-12 bombs to RAF Lakenheath in Britain, and Poland, Finland, and Lithuania could serve as future deployment sites if tensions escalate further. Lithuania's president has expressed readiness to join NATO's nuclear deterrence system, while Finland lifted its ban on hosting nuclear weapons in July.
Currently, roughly 100 US B61-12 bombs are stored across six bases in five NATO nations. Robert Peters of the Heritage Foundation estimates Russia holds a 10-to-1 advantage in non-strategic nuclear weapons and has called for deploying an additional 100 to 150 US warheads in Europe within two years.