Friedrich Merz, the frontrunner to become Germany’s next chancellor, has signaled his intent to open nuclear deterrence talks with the UK and France, as Europe faces growing doubts over future U.S. security guarantees.
Speaking to Deutschlandfunk in an interview reported by Reuters, Merz said that collective nuclear security among European allies must be a key topic going forward.
"Nuclear sharing is a topic we need to discuss… We must strengthen our collective nuclear deterrence," Merz stated, while making it clear that such cooperation would be complementary to, not a replacement for, America’s nuclear umbrella in Europe.
Germany is bound by its non-nuclear defense commitments, stemming from post-WWII agreements and the 1990 Two Plus Four Treaty, which prevents it from developing its own nuclear weapons. However, as a NATO member, it remains part of the alliance’s nuclear sharing program, participating in joint planning and hosting U.S. nuclear weapons under strict controls.
Merz reiterated that Germany has no intention to pursue its own nuclear arsenal, saying firmly: “This will remain unchanged.”
Still, the proposal for deeper European nuclear cooperation reflects growing concern that Europe may need to shoulder more of its own defense burden, particularly in light of signals from Donald Trump and others in the U.S. questioning NATO obligations.
Just days earlier, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk revealed that Poland is in talks with France about potential nuclear cooperation, suggesting momentum is building across the continent for alternative security arrangements.
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron has been vocal in his push for a stronger European defense policy. Speaking ahead of a major European summit, Macron warned that the continent could no longer rely solely on U.S. protection:
"The innocence of the last 30 years is now over," Macron said, calling for greater investment in European military and nuclear capabilities. “Europe’s future should not be decided in Washington or Moscow,” he added.
