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DONATE NOW<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cI\u00a0have already begun initial talks with French President Emmanuel Macron regarding European nuclear deterrence,\u201d Merz said.<\/p>\n Merz emphasized that the initiative is\u00a0not intended to\u00a0replace NATO\u2019s existing security architecture. \u201cWe\u00a0are not doing this by\u00a0writing NATO off. We\u00a0are doing this by\u00a0creating a\u00a0strong, self-sufficient European pillar within the Alliance,\u201d he\u00a0said in\u00a0his speech.<\/p>\n He\u00a0also stated that any arrangement would remain aligned with NATO\u2019s nuclear sharing system. \u201cThis will be\u00a0fully integrated into NATO\u2019s nuclear sharing system. There will be\u00a0no\u00a0zones of\u00a0different levels of\u00a0security in\u00a0Europe,\u201d the German chancellor added.<\/p>\n Read more<\/p>\n Who Has Nuclear Weapons Today as Russia Undercuts the Nuclear Order<\/a><\/p>\n \n Jul 01, 2025 11:29\n <\/p>\n At\u00a0the same time, Merz stressed that Germany remains committed to\u00a0its legal obligations and that the proposal does not imply abandoning NATO.<\/p>\n France is\u00a0currently the only European Union member state with its own nuclear arsenal. The French deterrent includes air-launched ASMP-A cruise missiles carried by\u00a0Rafale fighter jets and submarine-launched M51 ballistic missiles deployed on\u00a0nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines such as\u00a0Le\u00a0Terrible.<\/p>\n Earlier, Germany and Poland had already held<\/a> informal discussions about potentially extending France\u2019s nuclear deterrence framework to\u00a0additional EU\u00a0member states.<\/p>\n Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson also confirmed in\u00a0late January that Sweden had conducted preliminary consultations with France and the United Kingdom on\u00a0possible cooperation in\u00a0the nuclear deterrence sphere.<\/p>\n Read more<\/p>\n Europe Eyes Its Own Nuclear Shield as\u00a0Trust in\u00a0US\u00a0Security Wanes<\/a><\/p>\n \n Feb 03, 2026 15:55\n <\/p>\n \u201cI\u00a0say that when we\u00a0joined NATO, we\u00a0are fully involved in\u00a0all discussions, including those taking place in\u00a0Europe around nuclear weapons. Not to\u00a0use them, but as\u00a0long as\u00a0dangerous countries possess nuclear weapons, healthy democracies must also have access to\u00a0nuclear weapons,\u201d Kristersson said.<\/p>\n He\u00a0clarified that no\u00a0specific proposals or\u00a0timelines are currently under consideration and that discussions remain at\u00a0an\u00a0early stage.<\/p>\n Earlier on\u00a0February 11, The New York Times reported<\/a> that NATO plans to\u00a0launch the \u201cArctic Sentry\u201d mission to\u00a0reinforce its presence in\u00a0the High North amid growing Russian military activity. The initiative includes additional troop deployments in\u00a0Arctic areas of\u00a0Norway, Sweden, and Finland, expanded patrols in\u00a0the Norwegian Sea, and potential testing of\u00a0new surveillance drones in\u00a0extreme conditions.<\/p>\n![\"Who](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/6e519d490700fc4fdae6ef3ef2ab1827.png\")
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