A German political scientist has warned that Europe must acquire nearly a thousand more nuclear warheads to effectively deter Vladimir Putin.

Maximilian Terhalle, a visiting fellow at Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, pointed out that while Russia has at least 1,550 long-range nuclear missiles ready, Europe’s arsenal only consists of a few hundred.

Concerns over former U.S. President Donald Trump potentially reducing security commitments in Europe have sparked discussions among EU leaders about developing an independent nuclear deterrent.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Dr. Terhalle expressed concerns about Trump’s approach to Russia, stating, “Trump has turned an enemy, Russia, into a friend, which is deeply concerning. If the U.S. were to completely disengage from Europe (though it hasn’t yet), we must consider how to compensate, as Russia’s imperial ambitions remain unchanged.”

He emphasized the need for nuclear parity with Russia’s 1,550 strategic warheads, arguing that without it, Europe would lack the ability to influence Putin’s decision-making. He also noted Russia’s overwhelming advantage in short-range tactical nuclear weapons, with a 10:1 lead.

According to Dr. Terhalle, France and Britain together possess around 450 strategic nuclear warheads and 200 smaller tactical warheads. While advocating for NATO’s unity, he stressed the importance of Europe taking responsibility for its own security.

Germany’s Chancellor-elect, Friedrich Merz, has also voiced concerns about the U.S. under Trump becoming “largely indifferent” to Europe’s security. The leader of the centre-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) has proposed that Britain and France extend their nuclear protection to Germany to strengthen Europe’s defense without relying on the U.S.

Germany currently hosts U.S. nuclear weapons and is covered by NATO’s nuclear umbrella, but Trump’s warming relations with Russia have led Berlin to explore additional security measures.

While the UK maintains a policy of deliberate ambiguity on its nuclear program, France possesses an independent nuclear deterrent. French President Emmanuel Macron has suggested that France’s nuclear arsenal should play a role in European defense, and The Telegraph recently reported that France is considering deploying nuclear-armed fighter jets to Germany as a warning to Russia. However, the French government has stated its nuclear policy remains unchanged.

Dr. Terhalle, a leading voice in Germany’s nuclear debate, has previously proposed that Berlin and other EU nations collaborate to acquire or lease 1,550 U.S. warheads for a European-led nuclear deterrent. While this may have been feasible under the Biden administration, he suggested that a Trump administration would likely be less willing to approve such an arrangement.

Dr. Bahram Ghiassee, a nuclear weapons analyst at the Henry Jackson Society, described Merz’s proposal for Germany to join Britain or France’s nuclear umbrella as viable, though it has previously seen little support from EU leaders.

“The concept of a European nuclear deterrent has been discussed before,” Dr. Ghiassee explained, recalling that former French President Nicolas Sarkozy once proposed the idea, only for it to be dismissed by former German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Macron has also raised the idea multiple times, but so far, there has been little progress. Dr. Ghiassee personally supports the proposal, arguing that Europe must reduce its dependence on an increasingly uncertain transatlantic alliance. He added that there are no legal barriers preventing Germany, France, and the UK from forming a joint nuclear defense and security pact.