Discussions among Europeans about a possible joint nuclear umbrella. The announcement made by the leader of Germany
Friedrich Merz in the Bundestag Photo: AA/ABACA / Abaca Press / Profimedia
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said European nations are beginning to discuss ideas for a possible joint nuclear umbrella to complement existing security agreements with the USreports Reuters.
At a time of heightened transatlantic tensions, Merz said talks were at an early stage and no decision was imminent.
“We know that we have to come to a number of strategic and military policy decisions, but right now the time is not right,” he told reporters on Thursday.
Germany is barred from developing a nuclear weapon of its own under the 2+4 Treaty, which paved the way for the country's reunification in 1990, as well as under a historic nuclear non-proliferation treaty that Germany signed in 1969.
Treaties do not prevent discussing solutions, says the chancellor
Merz said Germany's treaty obligations do not prevent it from discussing joint solutions with its partners, including Britain and France, the only European powers with a nuclear arsenal.
“These talks are taking place. They also do not conflict with sharing nuclear weapons with the United States of America,” the German leader added.
Similar remarks to those of the chancellor were made by the chairman of the parliamentary defense committee, Thomas Roewekamp, who stated that Germany can contribute to the development of a European nuclear weapon with its technical capacity.
“We don't have missiles or nuclear warheads, but we have a significant technological advantage that we could contribute to a joint European initiative,” Roewekamp, from Merz's center-right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party, told German broadcaster Welt TV.
