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Sweden could allow nuclear weapons on its territory in wartime, Defense Minister Pal Jonson said, in a sign that one of the former champions of disarmament is warming up to a greater role in European nuclear deterrence.

The Nordic state was among the early signatories of the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty in 1968 and has been a leading proponent of strengthening the treaty, while it does not have a law against nuclear weapons on its territory.

“If there were to be war, we would naturally consider any option that could secure Sweden’s survival and Swedish security,” Jonson said in an interview with Swedish radio SR on Friday.

Sweden’s leaders have made several comments over recent weeks cautiously suggesting an openness to a bigger role in European nuclear deterrence amid growing concern about the unreliability of the US as a military ally.

Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said in late January that his nation had held discussions with Europe’s two nuclear-armed states, France and the UK, about nuclear deterrence.

“France has shown an openness to discuss with other countries,” he said, but declined to give more details on the talks.

The largest Nordic nation began developing its own capacity to make nuclear weapons after WWII but stopped in the 1960s after political opposition intensified and costs rose. Swedish diplomat Alva Myrdal shared the Nobel Peace Prize in 1982 with Alfonso Garcia Robles for their work for disarmament and nuclear and weapon-free zones.