Fifteen years have passed since the Berlin Wall was dismantled, but thousands of US and Russian tactical nuclear weapons built for possible use on the European battlefield still remain. Now is the time for Nato’s leaders to pave the way for an agreement with Russia to account for and verifiably eliminate tactical nuclear weapons by withdrawing the remaining weapons of this kind deployed by the US tactical nuclear weapons deployed in Europe. Such an accord would strengthen efforts to fight the spread of nuclear weapons to terrorists and rogue states.

A process of The gradual withdrawal of remaining US nuclear weapons from Europe and a phasing out of Nato’s remaining tactical nuclear missions weapons missions would close one of the most a dangerous chapter of European history. It would confirm the changed role of the alliance in a post-cold war world.