Nine countries possess nuclear weapons worldwide: the United States, Russia, the United Kingdom, France, China, India, Pakistan, North Korea and Israel. In NATO, nuclear deterrence rests on the Alliance’s strategic forces, primarily those of the United States, as well as the independent strategic forces of the United Kingdom and France. Some NATO members take part in the “nuclear sharing” arrangement under which US B61 nuclear bombs are stationed on their territory. Countries commonly listed as hosting these assets include Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey.
The United States also declares extended deterrence for allies in the Indo-Pacific, including Japan. The US similarly provides extended deterrence to the Republic of Korea, described as a “nuclear umbrella”. Nuclear umbrella deterrence is tied to alliance commitments and planning for scenarios involving the threat of nuclear weapon use. The deployment and role of deterrence assets are set within security policies and allied arrangements.