Map Shows US Allies Hosting Nuclear Weapons as Feud Emerges in NATO Country

The United States, the United Kingdom and France are the only three nations globally with their own nuclear weapons programs, all NATO members that participate in the alliance's nuclear sharing program from the 1950s. Today, five NATO countries—Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey—host U.S. nuclear weapons on their soil as part of this arrangement, which aims to counter Soviet military strength in Europe should the Cold War escalate into open conflict.

Poland, a NATO member, is now facing internal debate over whether to join this program after meeting U.S. undersecretary of defense for policy Elbridge Colby. Deputy Defense Minister Pawel Zalewski firmly stated that Poland does not want nuclear warheads on its territory, a stance met with criticism from pro-government figures. Polish officials acknowledge that such a move could provoke a Russian response, given the country's vulnerability to Russian influence and missile threats from neighboring Belarus and Kaliningrad.