Reportedly increase nuclear deployment in Europe

According to a report from the Financial Times quoting three sources, the United States is discussing whether to deploy nuclear weapons in other NATO European member countries. The report states that the US has already deployed nuclear-capable bombers in six European countries, and US officials have recently signaled openness to additional deployments beyond these six countries. The report indicates that this would involve more countries hosting the so-called US "dual-capable aircraft" - aircraft capable of carrying out nuclear strike missions, but also notes that reaching an agreement to expand US nuclear hosting is not urgent. The report states that NATO "Eastern flank" countries including Poland and some Baltic states have shown interest in this, and discussions are ongoing within NATO channels. Both the US Department of Defense and NATO have not responded to this report. US Deputy Defense Secretary Elbridge Colby has previously stated publicly that even as European allies take the lead in conventional forces, the US will continue to use nuclear weapons to protect NATO member countries.