Europe Wants Nuclear Weapons, While Iran Is Banned From Having Nukes

BRUSSELS, SATURDAY - Amid Europe's concerns over the actions of the United States, Poland and the Baltic states welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron's proposal for France to become Europe's nuclear umbrella. Meanwhile, Iran is under pressure to abandon its nuclear program.

According to The New York Times, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said that major US geopolitical changes have put Poland and Ukraine in an objectively more difficult situation. As a result, Poland must drastically increase the size of its military and open up opportunities related to nuclear weapons. 

"It is time for us to boldly consider the possibility of having the most modern weapons," said Tusk in a speech on security at the Polish Parliament, although he did not explicitly propose the development of nuclear weapons, Friday (7/3/2025).

Tusk added that Poland is in discussions with France regarding the potential expansion of France's nuclear umbrella to European countries. France is the only European Union member with nuclear capabilities outside of the United Kingdom and Russia.

A day earlier, at a meeting in Brussels, Tusk had said the European Union (EU) should seriously consider the French proposal. Poland now holds the EU's rotating presidency. "As always, details matter, but France's willingness on this matter is very significant," he said.

The Baltic states are also interested in Macron's proposal. They are advocating for increased defense spending by EU countries to prevent future Russian aggression.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda praised the proposal as a very interesting idea. "We have high hopes because the nuclear umbrella will serve as a very serious deterrent against Russia," he said.

Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa referred to France's proposal as a "chance for discussion." According to her, more time is needed to engage in talks with other European allies at the domestic level.

Russia and the United States are the countries with the largest nuclear capabilities in the world, each possessing more than 5,000 nuclear warheads. China has approximately 500 nuclear warheads, France has 290 nuclear warheads, and the United Kingdom has 225 nuclear warheads, according to the Federation of American Scientists.

For years, the nuclear deterrent for NATO members came from the US. This is one reason why many European countries have not developed their own nuclear weapons. However, US President Donald Trump has recently shown doubts about NATO and sided with Russia regarding the Ukraine-Russia war.

Although France is also a member of NATO, its nuclear forces are not part of the alliance's military command structure. French nuclear weapons would only be used in extreme self-defense situations, so deploying them abroad is prohibited.

Poland is a signatory to the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT), which prohibits countries other than the five nuclear powers declared in 1970 from acquiring atomic weapons.

Meanwhile, Israel, India, and Pakistan never joined the treaty. North Korea also later withdrew from the NPT. These countries then developed their own nuclear weapons.

Poland actually has a history with nuclear, including through the presence of figures such as Marie Sklodowska-Curie and Stanislaw Ulam. Currently, Poland is one of the largest defense spenders in Europe, at around 4 percent of gross domestic product in 2024. This amount is double the 2 percent minimum set by NATO.

“Poland will not accept the philosophy that we are weak and helpless, that if President Trump decides to change his policies, we have no chance,” Tusk said.

Europe has the means to defend itself, but it needs to eliminate one thing: “lack of will to act, uncertainty and, sometimes, even cowardice,” Tusk said.

Britain is another European country with nuclear weapons. Although it is no longer a member of the EU, it has shown a commitment to helping Europe in its efforts to restore relations with the bloc.

"In terms of expanding our nuclear deterrent or using it to protect other European countries, we have done that. The UK has handed over its nuclear forces to NATO, helping to keep Europe secure in the Euro-Atlantic region," said Tom Wells, spokesman for British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

On Friday (7/3/2025), US President Donald Trump said he had written a letter to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. He urged negotiations on the country's nuclear weapons.

"I wrote them a letter saying I hope you will negotiate because if we have to use military force, it will be a terrible thing for them. You can't let them have nuclear weapons," Trump told Fox Business.

Iran's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York told AFP they had not received any such letter. It was not clear how Trump's letter was delivered to Tehran.

In 2015, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) came into effect to limit Iran’s nuclear program. In exchange, Iran received sanctions relief. In 2018, the JCPOA began to expire after the US withdrew under Trump and reimposed major sanctions on Iran. A year later, Iran withdrew its commitments to the JCPOA.

Since then, Iran has been wary of US diplomatic moves. “We will not negotiate directly with the US as long as they continue their policy of maximum pressure and threats,” Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said.

He did not respond directly to Trump's letter. Araghchi was the JCPOA's lead negotiator.

Speaking on the sidelines of a meeting of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation in Saudi Arabia, Araghchi also warned that Iran’s nuclear programme cannot be destroyed through military operations. “This is a technology that we have achieved, and the technology is in the brain and cannot be bombed,” Araghchi said.

Iran has consistently denied claims it is developing nuclear weapons. Last month, U.N. atomic agency chief Rafael Grossi said Iran was enriching uranium to 60 percent, or nearly weapons-grade. (AP/AFP/REUTERS)