According to the German weekly magazine “Spiegel,” Germany needs a new nuclear safety net that’s more European. The piece argues that President Donald Trump has messed with the current safety system in Europe, making it less effective. The author points out that the US can’t be counted on like before, and without a new system, Europe will have difficulty standing up to Vladimir Putin‘s aggressive moves. This could leave Europe vulnerable to pressure from the US, Russia, or China.
Jens Spahn, the deputy chairman of the CDU/CSU in the Bundestag, talked about this recently, saying our security can’t depend on the US anymore and that we need to step up our game within NATO.
The article also notes that it’s a shame German politicians aren’t more open about the apparent consequences of US policy. It says straightforwardly, “Germany needs a new nuclear umbrella, and it has to be European.”
The piece highlights how important this protection is for Europe, especially Germany, to fend off the threats from Russian President Putin. It suggests that Germany could benefit from teaming up with France’s nuclear capabilities if willing to share the costs. On the flip side, Great Britain, which has nuclear weapons too, has pulled back from European cooperation since Brexit. The article mentions that French President Emmanuel Macron has made it clear he will have absolute control over using French nukes in the future.
The columnist suggests establishing a European nuclear umbrella similar to the American system, with the French president having final authority over nuclear weapons. Some weapons would be stationed in European partner countries for wartime use. He advocates for a committee based on the NATO Nuclear Planning Group to allow contributions from partners, who must trust France to provide nuclear defence in critical situations. This structure is deemed essential for a credible European nuclear defence.
