The European Union is said to be considering having its own nuclear arsenal following fears in Brussels Donald Trump will withdraw US support.

Talk of a military programme to beef up the continent's weapons of mass destruction comes with the union under pressure and suggestions of Russia and the US aligning.

The drastic move would only be triggered if it believed The White House would no longer be an ally, but discussions have already gathered pace in Germany.

US President Donald J. Trump (right) salutes as he disembarks Marine One on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, DC

HMS Trafalgar which was decommissioned in 2009 as a German lawmaker said his idea was to build on existing weapons in France and the UK

Jana Puglierin of the German Council on Foreign Relations told the New York Times some senior European officials had 'for sure triggered a public debate about this, taking place in newspapers and journals, radio interviews and TV documentaries.

'That in itself is remarkable. I am indeed very astonished that we discuss this at all.'

Her comments come after Poland's former prime minister Jaroslaw Zaczynski's calls for a nuclear programme in Europe when he was interviewed by a German paper.

And shortly after Trump took office, lawmaker and foreign policy spokesman for Germany's ruling party Roderich Kiesewetter also appeared to endorse the idea.

In an interview with eh German Bundestag, he said: 'My idea is to build on the existing weapons in Great Britain and France.'

President Donald Trump returns a salute upon his arrival on Air Force One at Langley Air Force Base

Mr Kieswetter said Europe's programme would counter the US' presence in Europe.

Trump has nuclear warheads based in Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands, in what is meant to be a guarantee from The White House that it will protect the continent.

Thought the inclusion of the UK in nuclear talks has raised eyebrows given that Brexit could end the nation's involvement in any future plans.

If it is to get the green light, it will require four key elements, according to the German lawmaker.

He told the New York Times it would take the French to commit its weapons to an all-European effort, it would need German financing a joint command and a readiness to place French weapons in other countries in the continent.

'These are political weapons. Their use must be unpredictable,' he said.

There are growing fears Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin could strike up a deal which would ostracize Europe.

The programme would only be triggered if the President of the US was seen to no longer have Europe's back.

For now, the only action is debate, and if Trump comes out in support of Europe, the programme would be redundant, according to Mr Kieswetter.

Europe is said to be discussing building up its nuclear arsenal (file photo of missile being fired)

It comes as EU foreign and defence ministers were expected to approve controversial plans for a military headquarters to coordinate the bloc's overseas security operations, officials said.

EU foreign affairs chief Federica Mogherini said they would discuss ways 'to move forward, to make the European Union more credible and stronger in defence.'

'The immediate decision will be on the military planning and conduct capability,' Mogherini said, as she went into the ministers meeting in Brussels, referring to the new command centre.

'It is not a European army - I know this is the label going around - it is a more effective way of handling our military work,' the former Italian foreign minister said.

The EU has repeatedly issued reassurances that it is not going to undercut NATO as the primary defence for Europe.

Jean-Claude Juncker, President of the European Commission called for a common EU defence headquarters

Britain's vote to leave the EU, stripping the bloc of one of its most powerful and nuclear-armed countries, plus doubts about US President Donald Trump's NATO commitment have given fresh impetus to efforts to step up military cooperation.

The MPCC will oversee the European Union's 'non-executive' operations - those that do not use force - such as civil-military training missions in Mali, the Central African Republic and Somalia.

The EU also runs Operation Sophia in the central Mediterranean, which can use force to stop migrant smugglers, and Operation Atalanta, part of international anti-piracy forces off the Horn of Africa.

These operations have their own command centres which will remain separate, EU sources said last week.

European Commission head Jean-Claude Juncker called for a common EU defence headquarters in September after the Brexit vote, resurrecting an idea that had circulated in the EU for years.

The MPCC, based in Brussels, will have a small staff and be headed by a director rather than a commander, to avoid overt military connotations, EU sources said last week.