German Union’s Leader Faced with Strong Opposition from SPD over Nuclear Defense Shield
The leader of the German Union, Jens Spahn, has sparked a heated debate by calling for a separate nuclear defense shield for Germany, a proposal that has been met with strong opposition from the SPD, its coalition partner.
Rolf Mützenich, a long-time SPD politician and former foreign policy expert, has criticized Spahn’s proposal, saying it is a reckless and arrogant idea that would undermine international efforts to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons and hinder the development of new disarmament strategies.
Mützenich argued that such a move would violate important treaties, including the 2+4 Agreement on German reunification and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty. He also warned that if a country’s ability to possess nuclear weapons was tied to its global responsibility, as Spahn suggests, the international order would devolve into a jungle where only the strongest and most heavily armed states could survive.
The SPD has consistently advocated for the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons and has signed the “Peace Manifesto” which calls for more diplomatic efforts in regards to Russia and warns against an arms race spiral. Mützenich urged the Union and Chancellor Friedrich Merz to clarify whether they would follow Spahn’s “dangerous and irresponsible” path.