European Parliament Nuclear Politics: The Debate within the No-debate

Abstract

Since the war in Ukraine erupted in February 2022, there has been a revival of nuclear politics, where Europe has been confronted with the reality of living under nuclear threat. Even though relevant international actors such as NATO and national leaders have introduced the nuclear threat in their different national arenas and integrated it into political agendas, the debate surrounding nuclear deterrence remains in the shadows. The potential of a nuclear threat and the controversy affecting discussions on nuclear deterrence in its different forms, including nuclear weapons, has been limited in the European political context, particularly at the European Parliament (EP) level. This essay provides critical insights into the political nuclear debate within the European Parliament and reflects on its implications for the future of nuclear deterrence in Europe. The research findings suggest that nuclear politics have emerged modestly in the EP since February 2022, revealing how nuclear politics at the European level remain attached to the national competent authorities and other relevant authorities as the NATO scheme rather than at the EP forum.