Merz Seeks European Nuclear Cooperation, Complementing US Shield

Germany's New Chancellor Seeks Nuclear Cooperation with France and Britain

Germany's incoming chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has signaled his intention to engage in discussions with France and Britain regarding the sharing of nuclear weapons. However, he emphasizes that such a move should not be seen as a replacement for the existing US nuclear shield protecting Europe.

In a recent interview with Deutschlandfunk, Merz stated, "The sharing of nuclear weapons is an issue we need to talk about. We have to be stronger together in nuclear deterrence." While acknowledging the importance of maintaining the US nuclear shield, he also expressed the need for a European nuclear shield as a "complement" to it.

Merz's comments come amidst a changing global security landscape, particularly in light of the ongoing war in Ukraine and concerns about Russia's potential future actions. He believes that the current situation necessitates discussions among European nations on this matter.

Germany, due to its historical role as an aggressor in World War II, is bound by international treaties to refrain from acquiring nuclear weapons. However, it does participate in NATO's nuclear weapons-sharing agreements.

Merz's proposal follows French President Emmanuel Macron's recent openness to discussing the expansion of France's nuclear deterrent program to other European countries. This aligns with the broader European Union's plans to increase defense spending and build an alternative model to military support from the United States.

Merz's plans also involve significant increases in spending for defense and infrastructure, requiring changes to the German constitution. He is seeking the support of the Social Democrats and the Greens to achieve the necessary two-thirds parliamentary majority. However, the Greens have expressed concerns about the lack of emphasis on climate protection in his proposals.

Merz aims to form a coalition government with the Social Democrats by Easter, on April 20th. Other key issues to be addressed in the coalition negotiations include migration and security.