Germany’s incoming Chancellor, Friedrich Merz, has expressed his commitment to preserving U.S. nuclear protection while seeking new nuclear-sharing agreements with the UK and France.

"Nuclear weapons sharing is a topic we need to discuss. We must strengthen our nuclear deterrence capabilities together," Merz said in an interview with Deutschlandfunk radio on March 9.

He added that Germany should negotiate nuclear-sharing arrangements with the UK and France, the only two European NATO members with nuclear arsenals.

"We should negotiate with both France and the UK in a way that complements—not replaces—the American nuclear shield, which we of course want to maintain," Merz said.

Europe Considers Strengthening Its Own Nuclear Deterrence

Since World War II, Germany has adhered to international treaties committing to non-nuclear defense, while still participating in NATO’s nuclear-sharing agreements. However, with growing uncertainty over U.S. security commitments, European leaders are exploring alternative deterrence measures.

On March 5, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France would discuss expanding its nuclear deterrence capabilities to include other European nations. His statement followed what he described as a "historic" phone call with Merz on the issue.

According to the Federation of American Scientists, France and the UK hold approximately 290 and 255 nuclear warheads, respectively, while the U.S. and Russia control nearly 88% of the world’s total nuclear arsenal.

Uncertainty Over U.S. Commitments

Discussions about strengthening European defense have intensified as President Donald Trump pressures NATO members to increase military spending while simultaneously improving U.S.-Russia relations.

On March 6, Trump declared that the U.S. would not defend NATO allies that fail to meet their defense spending commitments. In January, he suggested NATO members should increase defense budgets to 5% of GDP, up from the alliance’s longstanding 2% target.

The shift has alarmed many European leaders, who now question whether they can continue relying on U.S. military protection.

Merz, a veteran politician and leader of Germany’s center-right CDU/CSU alliance, won last month’s federal election and is set to replace Olaf Scholz as Germany’s next chancellor. He is currently working to form a coalition government before the April 20 deadline.

(Sources: Reuters, AFP)