Munich talks spark push for a European nuclear shield

At the Munich Security Conference, European leaders and officials discuss the possibility of Europe hosting a homegrown nuclear deterrent to complement the U.S. arsenal amid waning confidence in Washington’s commitment. Estonia and Latvia expressed openness to early talks, while France and the U.K. remain central to any plan, with Macron signaling a broader integration of deterrence that blends conventional and nuclear forces. Spain’s Sánchez cautioned against rearmament. NATO remains the anchor, with debates on linking French capabilities to alliance structures but not replacing the U.S. nuclear umbrella. Macron’s upcoming March speech is expected to spell out concrete options, from strengthening existing deterrence to exploring a supranational Eurodeterrent, as discussions remain in early stages.