The United States is evaluating the possibility of deploying nuclear weapons in European NATO member countries, as a measure to reassure its allies and demonstrate that the reduction of conventional military support does not weaken security guarantees, the Financial Times (FT) newspaper revealed this Tuesday.

As the FT learns from three people familiar with the move, US officials have expressed a willingness to make additional deployments beyond countries currently hosting nuclear-capable bombers.

These talks - which are highly confidential and may not lead to changes in nuclear sharing agreements - come amid growing concern in Europe over Donald Trump's moves to withdraw US troops and critical weapons systems from the continent, the newspaper says.

This would potentially allow more countries to host so-called US dual-capable aircraft (DCA) capable of carrying out nuclear strikes.

“US Commitment” to provide a nuclear umbrella to NATO allies

According to sources, the willingness to discuss expansion is intended to demonstrate “US commitment” to providing a nuclear umbrella, even as NATO allies are pressured to take on a greater conventional defense burden.

Countries on NATO's eastern flank, such as Poland and some Baltic states, showed interest in hosting DCA bases.

The article adds that Polish officials, in particular, have publicly expressed their desire to host nuclear weapons. Former President Andrzej Duda urged the US to extend the DCA initiative to its territory, while Warsaw this year joined a new French initiative to explore, for the first time, the possibility of temporarily moving parts of its nuclear deterrent capability to allied European countries.

The Russian invasion of Ukraine and President Vladimir Putin's repeated statements about the Kremlin's nuclear capabilities have boosted the interest of some allies in hosting DCA bases, according to sources consulted by the FT, who have pointed out, however, that an eventual agreement is not imminent.