France is the only nuclear state in the EU.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Friday that Berlin had begun confidential talks with France on a European nuclear deterrent, noting that the region needs to strengthen its position to rebuild its relationship with the United States, Reuters reports. This was reported by Big Kyiv, as reported by the PromPolitInform portal.
In his speech at the opening of the Munich Security Conference, Merz also called on Washington to restore and rebuild trust in the dangerous new era of great-power politics, warning that the US cannot act alone as the old global order is crumbling.
The speech noted that European leaders are increasingly seeking to forge an independent path after a year of unprecedented upheaval in transatlantic relations, while simultaneously striving to maintain their alliance with Washington.
Europe faces many threats, from Russia’s war in Ukraine to widespread disruptions in global trade. “I have begun confidential talks with the French President on European nuclear deterrence,” Merz said. “We Germans adhere to our legal obligations. We consider this an integral part of our agreement on nuclear cooperation within NATO. And we will not allow the emergence of zones of varying degrees of security in Europe.”
France is the only nuclear-armed state in the EU. Later this month, French President Emmanuel Macron is scheduled to deliver a speech on nuclear deterrence. Officials remain cautious on the issue, as it is the president’s prerogative.
European countries have long relied heavily on the United States, including its vast nuclear arsenal, for defense, but have recently increased military spending, partly in response to harsh criticism from the Trump administration.
While Germany is currently prohibited from developing nuclear weapons under international agreements, France is the only nuclear-armed state in the European Union following Britain’s exit from the bloc and has the fourth-largest nuclear arsenal in the world. Inspired by those warning of the rapid erosion of the rules-based international order, Merz said, “I’m afraid we must be even more blunt: this order, however imperfect it may be even at its best, no longer exists in this form.”
Concluding, switching to English, Merz said,
“In an era of great power rivalry, even the United States will not be strong enough to act alone. Dear friends, NATO membership is not only a competitive advantage for Europe, but also a competitive advantage for the United States.”
“Let us work together to restore and revive transatlantic trust,” he added.
