BERLIN: European countries are exploring the idea of a shared nuclear umbrella to strengthen regional security alongside existing arrangements with the United States, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Thursday. While discussions are in the early stages, no formal decision has been made.
Merz emphasized that Germany’s treaty obligations, including the 1969 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the post-reunification Four Plus Two Agreement, do not prevent talks with partners like Britain and France, which possess nuclear arsenals. He stressed that these discussions would not conflict with the current U.S. nuclear-sharing framework.
The move reflects growing European interest in bolstering defence capabilities amid increasing pressure from U.S. policy under President Donald Trump, who has criticized NATO allies for low military spending and threatened trade actions. Thomas Roewekamp, head of Germany’s parliamentary defence committee, noted that while Germany lacks nuclear warheads and missiles, it has technological expertise that could contribute to a joint European nuclear initiative.
European leaders are considering such collaborative measures as a way to strengthen strategic autonomy while maintaining reliance on the U.S. nuclear deterrent.
