France and Britain are unlikely to include European allies in their nuclear deterrence, analysts said after future German leader Friedrich Merz called for European defence 'independence' and a possible 'nuclear sharing'.
France and Britain are unlikely to include European allies in their nuclear deterrence, analysts said after future German leader Friedrich Merz called for European defence "independence" and a possible "nuclear sharing".
Faced with a seismic strategy shift by the United States under Donald Trump, Europe could be facing a future without America's nuclear umbrella, which protected them throughout the Cold War and in the decades since. Germany's election winner Merz said last week he wanted a discussion on "nuclear sharing" with France and Britain, western Europe's only nuclear powers.
Germany cannot acquire its own nuclear weapons without violating an international treaty on non-proliferation NPT of which it is a signatory.
German potential access to French nuclear guarantees had already been floated in July -- months after Russia's attack on Ukraine -- by former German finance minister Wolfgang Schaeuble.
