The initiative to create a European nuclear umbrella is ineffective because NATO provides nuclear deterrence.
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski said this in an interview with Ukrainian journalist Natalia Moseychuk.
“I am skeptical about these talks. We are not getting closer to this by talking about it more“, the minister said, adding that acquiring nuclear weapons is a risky idea, as other countries would also be interested in acquiring them. “NATO has a system for the common use of nuclear weapons. Britain and France also have deterrents, but they are small. "Therefore, they do not face the same challenges as the American arsenal of deterrents," Sikorski said.
On March 2, French President Emmanuel Macron announced an increase in the country's nuclear arsenal. He noted that Paris would stop disclosing its nomenclature. "More than anything, I want Europeans to regain control of their own destiny," the French leader said.
He explained the need for a new approach to deterrence policy, saying that "Europeans are used to their security depending on rules established by third countries." Macron announced work on updating France's nuclear doctrine as early as October 2025. In January of this year, NBC News reported that European countries, due to doubts about the reliability of the alliance with the United States, were exploring ways to strengthen their own nuclear arsenals.
European leaders are debating whether to rely more on France and Britain, which also have nuclear weapons, instead of the United States, or to develop their own, three of the sources told the American network.