These are not "on loan". They are stationed in the Netherlands. They are fully under US operational control.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear_sharing

> With the US now showing they are not afraid of doing a "rug pull" on agreements, one starts to wonder if the Netherlands shouldn't start development of nuclear weapons again.

This discussion is already looming in Germany, especially now that Elon Musk openly wants the US to leave NATO. There is a standing offer by Macron for Germany to go under French nuclear protection. The UK also appears to be more than willing to fill in the nuclear vacuum left by the US. If things continue the path of the last 2-3 weeks, I am sure that at some point there will be a discussion about whether Germany should prepare to be able to at least build nuclear weapons quickly.

I have a feeling that Canada has similar thoughts. I wonder what would happen if they started developing nuclear weapons. The US president already announced he would make Canada the 51st state, and around 25% of Canadians saw the US as an enemy country 2 weeks ago [0]

Strategically, it does not make any sense to me. I am pretty sure that the Russians are just as confused. I wonder if there is a historic precedent of a country giving up a functioning empire voluntarily, without any internal or external pressure to do so.

[0] https://www.newsweek.com/canada-us-relations-enemy-poll-tari...

I don't see proliferation in Europe as realistic politically. Europeanising the French program is what makes the most sense in that regard.

There is a lot of planning going on now in Europe, both on international (EU, UK) and national level, that would've been politically impossible just a few months ago.

Canada has been refused nuclear submarines by the US which are an absolute necessity to patrol the Canadian arctic. But the US also decided Australia should get American nuclear subs and cancel their order of French nuclear subs. I believe the French would be more than happy to build a few subs for their Western NATO friends for a reasonable price.

> it's common knowledge and was also confirmed by a former prime-minister

And also, inexplicably, via (formerly) publicly viewable Chegg flashcards (???): https://www.bellingcat.com/news/2021/05/28/us-soldiers-expos...

Are the Netherlands able to control these devices? I would be very surprised if that were the case.

Codes are not given and are only in America.

Since DOGE has wrecked any semblance of data security in the US government, we can assume the codes are also in Moscow by now.

Was DOGE able to affect the Pentagon or three-lettered security agencies yet? I would assume anything defense-related is kept separate from civilian government structures and may not be as collapsible. Some may even have internal plans to defend against a take over from the top.

The code is 00000000 anyway!

Could always dismantle and repurpose.

Yes, when Trump complains about NATO most people hear dollars, tanks, and planes, but European leaders hear the nuclear deterrent.

This is one reason Britain and France are out front right now on matters of European security.

Belgium is the same, and I don't know about you, but F16's and F35's are the only ones that can carry those bombs. That's why Belgium ordered a bunch of them and not some European planes.

It's too late to cancel now, but I guess in the future we will have to reconsider the true value of these bombs and airplanes. Once we really need them, US might "force us into peace".

The Netherlands also has elections.