Munich Security Conference Chairman Wolfgang Ischinger called for strengthening Europe's participation in NATO's nuclear deterrence system. He believes Germany should play a special role in this process.
In remarks to the German Press Agency (DPA), he stated that "France and Britain could contribute more with their nuclear weapons to the nuclear deterrence umbrella, which currently relies mainly on the United States." Ischinger added: "If that happens, it would be a signal from Europe to the Russians, Americans, and Chinese that it is capable of asserting itself."
Ischinger indicated that Germany could act as a "bridge" between Europe and the US to ensure such proposals are not misunderstood in Washington. He cautioned: "The Americans might say: 'They are aligning with the French now, so we don't need our nuclear weapons as a deterrent anymore,' and that must be prevented."
Currently, Britain and France are the only European nations possessing nuclear weapons. However, nuclear deterrence within NATO relies heavily on the US arsenal, estimated to include about 100 warheads stationed in Europe.
Previously, French President Emmanuel Macron proposed in 2020, during Donald Trump's first term, holding talks with Germany and other EU partners on European nuclear deterrence cooperation. However, the initiative garnered little response in Berlin at the time.
Ischinger criticized former Chancellor Angela Merkel and ex-Chancellor Olaf Scholz, saying: "I personally did not understand why neither of them sent their advisors or the Inspector General of the German Army to Paris with a clear mandate: seriously examine what the French are proposing." He emphasized that such conversations must happen now and be conducted secretly, "not in public."
