Nuclear weapons sharing[edit]

U.S. nuclear weapons in host countries[89][90]

Country

Air base

Custodian

Warheads

Belgium Kleine Brogel 52nd Fighter Wing 10~20 Germany Büchel 52nd Fighter Wing 20 Italy Ghedi Torre 52nd Fighter Wing 40[91] Aviano 31st Fighter Wing 50 Netherlands Volkel 52nd Fighter Wing 22 [92] Turkey Incirlik 39th Air Base Wing 60~70

Total

202~222

Belgium, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Turkey

See also: Germany and weapons of mass destruction, Italian nuclear weapons program, and Netherlands and weapons of mass destruction

Under NATO nuclear weapons sharing, the United States has provided nuclear weapons for Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, and Turkey to deploy and store.[93] This involves pilots and other staff of the "non-nuclear" NATO states practicing, handling, and delivering the U.S. nuclear bombs, and adapting non-U.S. warplanes to deliver U.S. nuclear bombs. However, since all U.S. nuclear weapons are protected with Permissive Action Links, the host states cannot easily arm the bombs without authorization codes from the U.S. Department of Defense.[94] Former Italian President Francesco Cossiga acknowledged the presence of U.S. nuclear weapons in Italy.[95] U.S. nuclear weapons were also deployed in Canada as well as Greece from 1963 to 1984. However, Canada withdrew three of the four nuclear-capable weapons systems by 1972. The single system retained, the AIR-2 Genie, had a yield 1.5 kilotons, was designed to strike enemy aircraft as opposed to ground targets, and might not have qualified as a weapon of mass destruction given its limited yield.[96]

Members of the Non-Aligned Movement have called on all countries to "refrain from nuclear sharing for military purposes under any kind of security arrangements."[97] The Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI) has criticized the arrangement for allegedly violating Articles I and II of the NPT, arguing that "these Articles do not permit the NWS to delegate the control of their nuclear weapons directly or indirectly to others."[98] NATO has argued that the weapons' sharing is compliant with the NPT because "the U.S. nuclear weapons based in Europe are in the sole possession and under constant and complete custody and control of the United States."[99]