eh.... how to not forget about the bizarre nuke race between three
improbable countries named Italy, Yugoslavia and... *Switzerland* prior
of their ratification of the NPT ?

Can't say for the first two, but can certify each ass was safe in
Switzerland, you know, they called it "shelters" :-) If you believe
that, then you're happy while singing "paper tiger!" in Appenzell,
which should at least **** off those who've invested in MAD.

Then most certainly, there wasn't any nuclear vacuum in Europe. You
could read that even Sweden had some secret underground nuclear plant
of some sort. NATO prevented actual proliferation and local electorate
over stress.