German CDU Chairman Friedrich Merz has expressed a desire to discuss a European nuclear deterrence system with France, the UK and other allies. In an interview with the “Frankfurter Allgemeine Sonntagszeitung”, Merz stated that Germany currently has “nuclear sharing” with the US. He added that he would like to discuss the possibility of a common nuclear shield for Europe in coalition talks and with European partners, the EU and NATO.
Merz mentioned the French offer to discuss a common nuclear umbrella for Europe, noting that this idea was previously proposed by Charles de Gaulle in the French government’s nuclear doctrine of the 1960s, which stated that an attack on Germany would trigger the activation of France’s nuclear protection. Merz believes that the situation has changed and that Germany should reconsider this topic in collaboration with its partners.
Regarding the nuclear security guarantees of the US, Merz stated that, for the time being, the consultation and assistance articles four and five of the NATO treaty remain unchanged and thus Germany’s nuclear sharing with the Americans remains unchanged. However, he also emphasized the importance of being prepared for the worst-case scenario.
When asked if Germany would need to contribute to the costs of a nuclear deterrence system with France and the UK, Merz replied that this was not a topic currently on his agenda. He also stated that there was no reason to consider the possibility of Germany acquiring its own nuclear weapons in the future.