ABSTRACT
Nearly all commentators and analysts highlight the importance of the new NATO member states to the debate over the future of tactical nuclear weapons (TNWs) in Europe. While the phrase “new NATO member states” may be a misnomer, as this group includes 12 allies, some with more than a decade of experience as NATO members and some with specific regional concerns, policy priorities and security interests, this group of nations is seen to be important for a variety of reasons. On the one hand, their purported fear of Russia and its military potential is often cited as a justification for the continued need for the deployment of US nuclear weapons in Europe. On the other hand, the proponents of unilateral withdrawal often criticize the new members' alleged Cold War-style mentality and their attachment to the status quo.
