Nuclear weapons are a core component of NATO’s overall capabilities for deterrence and defence alongside conventional and missile defence forces.
NATO’s nuclear policy is based on two public documents agreed by the Heads of State and Government of all 29 Allies:
The 2010 Strategic Concept
The 2012 Deterrence and Defence Posture Review
The 2010 Strategic Concept, which was adopted by Allied Heads of State and Government at the NATO Summit in Lisbon in November 2010, sets out the Alliance’s core tasks and principles, including deterrence. The Strategic Concept commits NATO to the goal of creating the conditions for a world without nuclear weapons, but reconfirms that, as long as there are nuclear weapons in the world, NATO will remain a nuclear alliance:
“The greatest responsibility of the Alliance is to protect and defend our territory and populations against attack, as set out in Article 5 of the Washington Treaty. […]
Deterrence, based on an appropriate mix of nuclear and conventional capabilities, remains a core element of our overall strategy. […] As long as nuclear weapons exist, NATO will remain a nuclear alliance. […]
We will ensure the broadest possible participation of Allies in collective defence planning on nuclear roles, in peacetime basing of nuclear forces, and in command, control and consultation arrangements.”
http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/topics_50068.htm
