The current security environment in Europe is characterised by increasing complexity and unpredictability. The unprovoked invasion of Ukraine by Russia has exposed Europe’s security vulnerabilities and has heightened concerns about the nuclear threat posed by Moscow, especially in the Black Sea region. Nuclear weapons remain the central pillar of European defence and security policy. Most European states rely on NATO’s nuclear umbrella for collective protection, mainly under US leadership, while some countries, such as France, maintain a strictly national approach to nuclear issues.

The rise of revisionist powers, which challenge the Western-led liberal world order, poses a new dual challenge to Euro-Atlantic security and NATO’s extended nuclear deterrent. Coupled with the shift in US foreign policy dynamics towards the Indo-Pacific and possibly the adoption of a more isolationist approach in the international affairs, there is an urgent need for a thorough reassessment of the role of nuclear weapons in Europe.

To discuss the potential need for a collective European nuclear deterrent (END), while ensuring the preservation of both the North Atlantic Alliance and the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) framework, the Martens Centre invites you to the launch of a paper, authored by Adérito Vicente, which critically assesses the feasibility and necessity of establishing a common European nuclear deterrent, and explores the challenges and opportunities associated with such an initiative. A commentary and debate will follow the presentation of the paper.

Register here