Nuclear sharing is a concept in
NATO's policy of nuclear
deterrence, which involves member countries without
nuclear weapons of their own in the planning for the use of nuclear weapons by NATO, and in particular provides for the
armed forces of these countries to be involved in delivering these weapons in the event of their use.
As part of nuclear sharing, the participating countries carry out consultations and take common decisions on nuclear weapons policy, maintain technical equipment required for the use of nuclear weapons (including warplanes capable of delivering them), and store nuclear weapons on their territory.
Of the three nuclear powers in NATO only the United States has provided weapons for nuclear sharing. Currently the receiving countries are Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey. Canada received weapons until 1984, and Greece until 2001. The United Kingdom also received U.S. tactical nuclear weapons such as nuclear artillery and Lance missiles until 1992, despite the UK being a nuclear weapons state in its own right; these were mainly deployed in Germany.
The only German nuclear base is located in Büchel, near the border to Luxembourg. The base has 11 Protective Aircraft Shelters (PAS) equipped with WS3 Vaults for storage of nuclear weapons (maximum capacity is 44). There are 20 B61 nuclear bombs stored on the base for delivery by German PA-200 Tornado IDS bombers of the Jabo G-33 squadron.
