German Lawmaker Jens Spahn Advocates for European Nuclear Deterrence
A senior German lawmaker, Jens Spahn, has suggested that Germany should have access to French and British nuclear weapons as part of a broader European-level nuclear deterrence strategy. Spahn, who leads the joint CDU/CSU parliamentary group, believes that US nuclear arms in Europe are no longer sufficient and that Berlin should take the lead in pushing for an EU-level nuclear weapons system.
In an interview with the newspaper FAZ, Spahn argued that Germany needs to be able to deter threats at the European level, together with France and the UK. He proposed that Berlin could work with Paris and London to modernize their nuclear arsenals in exchange for access to their weapons. Spahn emphasized that debate on the issue will only happen if Germany takes the initiative, suggesting that London and Paris could retain control over their nuclear arsenals while Berlin participates in a modernization program.
This is not the first time Spahn has spoken about the need for Germany or Europe to have access to nuclear weapons. In July, he mentioned the “threat” from Russia and argued that nations without nuclear deterrence will become pawns in global politics. The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Director General Rafael Grossi has warned that Germany could develop its own nuclear bomb within months if it chose to do so.
Spahn’s remarks come as Germany has taken a more hardline stance towards Russia under Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who has pledged additional military aid to Ukraine and accused President Vladimir Putin of destabilizing large parts of Germany. Moscow has dismissed allegations of hostile intent towards Western nations as “nonsense” and fearmongering, condemning what it calls the West’s “reckless militarization.”
The Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has recently warned that growing Russophobia and militarization in Germany signal a slide into a “Fourth Reich,” accusing Western governments of seeking dominance under the guise of democracy. As tensions between Germany and Russia continue to escalate, Spahn’s proposal for European nuclear deterrence is likely to be a topic of intense debate and discussion in the coming months.
