Plans of CDU leader Friedrich Merz for a joint European nuclear deterrence are met with opposition from the potential coalition partner SPD.
SPD foreign policy official Ralf Stegner told the Funke media group that he did not believe the SPD could agree to Merz’s plan. While a close cooperation with France and the UK is necessary, as well as the strengthening of the defense capabilities and the presence at the NATO’s eastern border, “we definitely do not need another nuclear arms race, not to mention the nuclear arming of Germany, that is a dead end” Stegner said.
Instead, it should be about stopping the nuclear arms race worldwide and ensuring the number of nuclear weapons decreases, so that more room for solving the real problems worldwide is created – from hunger to civil wars and environmental destruction to refugee movements. Merz had announced that he would discuss the plan with France, the UK and other allies and also bring it up in the coalition negotiations and discuss it with the EU and NATO partners.
The chairman of the Left, Jan van Aken, described Merz’s proposal as a “dangerous and unnecessary path.” A European nuclear deterrence already exists with the over 200 nuclear weapons of France and the UK, van Aken told the Funke media group. “There is no reason why Germany should now become a more active part of this nuclear deterrence system.”
“This can only be explained by Friedrich Merz having ambitions for German nuclear weapons and that is a complete dead end in view of Germany’s history.” Merz had announced that he would negotiate with France, the UK and other allies on a European nuclear deterrence system and also bring it up in the coalition negotiations and discuss it with the EU and NATO partners.