ABSTRACT
The May 2012 Chicago summit meeting of NATO did not change the attitude of the allies toward the nuclear strategy of the Alliance or the status of the US tactical nuclear weapons (TNWs) that are stationed in five European countries, namely, Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey. However, in the run-up to the Lisbon Summit in November 2010, three of the host countries — Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands — attempted to reduce the remaining TNWs in their respective territories. That attempt created short-lived excitement among those who wish to see the removal of these weapons from Europe as soon as possible. Nevertheless, for the most part the Central and Eastern European countries and Turkey did not seem to agree with their Western European allies on the issue of the removal of TNWs from the continent. While the Central and Eastern European members of NATO have their own peculiar conditions and, therefore, reasons to be reluctant to accept the notion of completely eliminating US TNWs from European arsenals, Turkey's longstanding position on the deployment of these weapons in its territory has remained unchanged for nearly half a century. This chapter presents seven arguments supporting the view that Turkey's longstanding policy vis-a-vis these weapons systems should be revised in light of recent developments in Turkey's foreign and security policy environment. The following discussion offers an account of when, how and why US TNWs were first deployed in Turkey, examine changes that have occurred since then, and recommends what Turkey ought to do with regard to the future status of these weapons.
