The Trump administration has officially stated that the United States maintains its full nuclear deterrent commitment to NATO allies in Europe, even as the US conventional military presence on the continent is being sharply reduced.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio made this statement during a special briefing for NATO ambassadors in Washington. He stated that the US nuclear “umbrella” remains the “cornerstone” of transatlantic security and is not subject to revision.
“US nuclear assurances for Europe and Canada remain absolute and unchangeable. We will use all elements of our nuclear triad—land, sea, and air—to defend allies if necessary. This is non-negotiable,” Rubio emphasized.
He added that Washington continues to deploy tactical nuclear weapons to five NATO countries (Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Turkey), and continues regular rotations of B-52 and B-2 strategic bombers as part of Bomber Task Force Europe missions.
At the same time, Rubio reiterated the Pentagon’s position, previously voiced by Elbridge Colby, that primary responsibility for Europe’s conventional defense should be transferred to the Europeans themselves. “We are not leaving NATO. We are not leaving Europe. We are simply demanding that the world’s richest continent finally assume primary responsibility for its conventional defense,” the Secretary of State stated.
The European Commission and NATO have so far limited themselves to brief statements welcoming the “reaffirmation of US nuclear safeguards.” NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte noted at a press conference in Brussels: “The United States’ nuclear deterrent remains the foundation of the Alliance’s collective defense. That has not changed and will not change.”