According to the Financial Times, the United States is conducting negotiations to expand the presence of its Dual Capable Aircraft (DCA) in Europe. Sources familiar with the discussions told the newspaper that Poland and the Baltic states, NATO members bordering Russia or located in its immediate vicinity, have expressed interest in hosting American bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons.
Currently, DCA aircraft are stationed in six European countries: Belgium, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Turkey. The United States retains full control over its nuclear arsenals in Europe and is responsible for their security.
Why This Matters
The discussions around expanding the bomber deployment geography come amid growing concern among European NATO allies over the reduction of traditional American military support. Extending the nuclear presence is intended to reassure Alliance partners that a weakening of conventional guarantees will not translate into a diminished overall level of security.
The Legal Context
The negotiations run up against a sensitive legal question. The 1997 NATO-Russia Founding Act states that the Alliance has “no intention, no plan, and no reason” to deploy nuclear weapons on the territory of its new members. Poland joined NATO in 1999 — after the document was signed. Nevertheless, Polish officials have repeatedly stated their readiness to host American nuclear weapons on their soil, and the country’s president discussed the matter with Trump’s special envoy Keith Kellogg in March 2025.
Moscow regards such plans as a direct threat and a violation of the spirit of the 1997 agreements, while Warsaw and the Baltic states argue that the changed security environment demands a reassessment of previous approaches.
