Poland and Lithuania explore playing bigger role in NATO's nuclear deterrence

By — Claudia Ciobanu, Associated Press Claudia Ciobanu, Associated Press By — Sam McNeil, Associated Press Sam McNeil, Associated Press By — Konstantin Toropin, Associated Press Konstantin Toropin, Associated Press Leave your feedback Share Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/world/poland-and-lithuania-explore-playing-bigger-role-in-natos-nuclear-deterrence Email Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Tumblr Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Poland and Lithuania explore playing bigger role in NATO's nuclear deterrence World Jun 3, 2026 6:43 PM EDT WARSAW, Poland (AP) — Poland and Lithuania confirm they are participating in discussions about their potential role in NATO's nuclear deterrence efforts, which are built around U.S. nuclear weapons in Europe. While talks are in early stages, expanding U.S. nuclear deterrence in Europe could reassure continental allies of continued U.S. military support at a time when President Donald Trump has led an effort to reduce his country's conventional defense involvement in Europe. WATCH: Germany builds up its military to prepare for a potential future without U.S. support "We are talking, in order to create better conditions for nuclear deterrence and for Poland to play an important role in that," Polish Deputy Defense Minister Paweł Zalewski told Polish Radio on Wednesday. Poland, however, has denied any plans to host nuclear weapons. That would be "an extremely serious matter, which is serious in terms of political consequences," he said. "Discussions are indeed taking place. I do not want to go into details at this point as they are classified, but discussions are ongoing, and Lithuania is certainly not standing on the sidelines," Lithuanian Defense Minister Robertas Kaunas said Tuesday, according to press agency BNS. Both ministers were replying after anonymous sources cited Tuesday by the Financial Times said the United States had signaled openness to deploying elements of its nuclear arsenal in new European countries, in addition to the six currently thought to host nuclear weapons. The FT reported that Poland and the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, the NATO members located closest to Ukraine, were interested in potentially hosting bases for U.S. dual-capable aircraft, which can carry either conventional or nuclear warheads. The Pentagon declined to comment, but a Defense Department official said the U.S. and NATO "continuously assess the security environment" and work to keep effective deterrents. The official was not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity. The U.S. has had nuclear weapons in Europe for decades The United States has stationed nuclear weapons in several European countries for decades as part of its security guarantees to NATO allies. In recent years, Russia's war against Ukraine and the broader threat Moscow poses to NATO have prompted discussions about the possibility of expanding the U.S. nuclear cooperation with Europe. WATCH: Expiration of