Decreased credibility of NATO's deterrence—especially on its eastern flank

Germany is the largest European ally. Its participation in the nuclear sharing program backs the credibility of NATO’s nuclear deterrence and shows the strength of the US-European military alliance. Berlin’s withdrawal from the program, together with the withdrawal of US nuclear weapons from Germany, would be perceived by Russia as a sign of a serious US-European disengagement, and would decrease the credibility of both nuclear and conventional deterrence in Europe, especially on NATO’s eastern flank.