The US is considering placing nuclear-capable aircraft in more NATO countries in Europe, in an effort to reassure allies as Washington reduces its conventional military presence on the continent. According to the Financial Times on Tuesday, US officials are open to discussing expanding NATO’s nuclear-sharing system beyond the six European countries that currently host American nuclear-capable aircraft and nuclear weapons.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. The talks are still early and may not lead to any immediate changes. But they come as European allies worry that US troop cuts and the movement of key weapons systems could weaken NATO’s ability to deter Russia. American dual-capable aircraft (DCA), which can carry nuclear weapons, are currently stationed in Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Turkey and the UK. Under NATO rules, allied pilots train to carry out nuclear missions, but the warheads remain under US control at all times. Countries on NATO’s eastern flank – particularly Poland and the Baltic states – have been the most vocal in seeking deeper involvement in the alliance’s nuclear-sharing framework. Warsaw has publicly pushed for a US nuclear presence on Polish territory. Former President Andrzej Duda previously called for extending the dual-capable aircraft (DCA) mission to Poland. The country has also joined European efforts to discuss broader nuclear defense options.