Sometimes news that is basically sensational does get lost, regardless of all the social networks. Like the following words of Union faction leader Friedrich Merz at the traditional Arthur F. Burns Dinner of the International Journalism Programs, that in view of the world situation a common European “nuclear capacity is our life insurance”. There should be “no more taboos” in this regard.
The Christian Democrat, also head of his party, was returning here to a repeated offer by France to the other countries of the European Union to begin a dialogue on nuclear deterrence.
Secretary of State for European Affairs Clément Beaune, a close adviser to President Emmanuel Macron, had said just the other day in Berlin that “this proposal of President Macron is still on the table,” adding that “we believe French nuclear deterrence is a way to protect European interests.”
The debate on this – which Macron unsuccessfully initiated in 2020 – “still needs to be conducted,” he said. At the time, Macron had been contradicted by Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, then defense minister and CDU federal chairwoman. Now, too, there is opposition, or at least skepticism. Security experts, including in the CDU, point out that the 2+4 treaty regulating German unity explicitly excludes the possession, production and disposal of NBC weapons. Moreover, participation in a nuclear capability would require even more money for defense than two percent of GDP annually.
However, Kramp-Karrenbauer had also suggested a joint aircraft carrier project with France during her tenure. That could be expanded to include a joint nuclear option, if European will. Merz obviously wants to steer considerations in this direction now, especially in light of the fact that the outcome of the next election in the U.S. will not necessarily mean a strengthening of transatlantic forces.
That has to do with developments in the United States: Former President Donald Trump, who is keeping his candidacy open again, is known to stand for a critical course toward the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. He is also much more critical of security policy commitments to Europe than incumbent
Joe Biden.
Merz, on the other hand, is a transatlantic expert. He was chairman of the “Atlantic Bridge” for ten years and worked for an American company, BlackRock Inc. for a long time. This is an internationally active US investment company. Its headquarters are in New York. With over ten trillion dollars in assets under management, BlackRock is the world’s largest company in this market.
The CDU leader explained his idea of a “European nuclear umbrella” accordingly with the analysis: “None of us knows how the U.S. presidential elections will turn out in 2024 and whether promises of protection will still be valid then. A nuclear capability is our life insurance, and we cannot do without it.” Germany ignored Macron’s offer during his first term, he said: “In light of Russia’s war of aggression on Ukraine, it’s now time to finally take up this strand seriously and also lead it to a result.”
In addition, Merz urged that “we reform our national parliamentary reservation for multinational missions.” He said that anyone who wants an integrated European task force that is not just a political gesture, “but a real military resource,” must create the necessary conditions for it nationally. Another topic that will cause a stir, at the latest when the initiative makes it into the Bundestag as a motion.
I really don’t understand Germany on this.
Oh yes please, if the world needs more of anything, it is nuclear weapons.
There are already enough countries have nuclear arsenal. No, we don’t need more. We need to shutdown them all.
6 comments
Sometimes news that is basically sensational does get lost, regardless of all the social networks. Like the following words of Union faction leader Friedrich Merz at the traditional Arthur F. Burns Dinner of the International Journalism Programs, that in view of the world situation a common European “nuclear capacity is our life insurance”. There should be “no more taboos” in this regard.
The Christian Democrat, also head of his party, was returning here to a repeated offer by France to the other countries of the European Union to begin a dialogue on nuclear deterrence.
Secretary of State for European Affairs Clément Beaune, a close adviser to President Emmanuel Macron, had said just the other day in Berlin that “this proposal of President Macron is still on the table,” adding that “we believe French nuclear deterrence is a way to protect European interests.”
The debate on this – which Macron unsuccessfully initiated in 2020 – “still needs to be conducted,” he said. At the time, Macron had been contradicted by Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer, then defense minister and CDU federal chairwoman. Now, too, there is opposition, or at least skepticism. Security experts, including in the CDU, point out that the 2+4 treaty regulating German unity explicitly excludes the possession, production and disposal of NBC weapons. Moreover, participation in a nuclear capability would require even more money for defense than two percent of GDP annually.
However, Kramp-Karrenbauer had also suggested a joint aircraft carrier project with France during her tenure. That could be expanded to include a joint nuclear option, if European will. Merz obviously wants to steer considerations in this direction now, especially in light of the fact that the outcome of the next election in the U.S. will not necessarily mean a strengthening of transatlantic forces.
That has to do with developments in the United States: Former President Donald Trump, who is keeping his candidacy open again, is known to stand for a critical course toward the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. He is also much more critical of security policy commitments to Europe than incumbent
Joe Biden.
Merz, on the other hand, is a transatlantic expert. He was chairman of the “Atlantic Bridge” for ten years and worked for an American company, BlackRock Inc. for a long time. This is an internationally active US investment company. Its headquarters are in New York. With over ten trillion dollars in assets under management, BlackRock is the world’s largest company in this market.
The CDU leader explained his idea of a “European nuclear umbrella” accordingly with the analysis: “None of us knows how the U.S. presidential elections will turn out in 2024 and whether promises of protection will still be valid then. A nuclear capability is our life insurance, and we cannot do without it.” Germany ignored Macron’s offer during his first term, he said: “In light of Russia’s war of aggression on Ukraine, it’s now time to finally take up this strand seriously and also lead it to a result.”
In addition, Merz urged that “we reform our national parliamentary reservation for multinational missions.” He said that anyone who wants an integrated European task force that is not just a political gesture, “but a real military resource,” must create the necessary conditions for it nationally. Another topic that will cause a stir, at the latest when the initiative makes it into the Bundestag as a motion.
I really don’t understand Germany on this.
Oh yes please, if the world needs more of anything, it is nuclear weapons.
There are already enough countries have nuclear arsenal. No, we don’t need more. We need to shutdown them all.
Well no
France’s weapons should be become Europe’s.