Philenews

Germany Rejects Independent Nuclear Weapons, Open to Supporting French and British Capabilities

Published February 18, 2026, 12:14
Germany Rejects Independent Nuclear Weapons, Open to Supporting French and British Capabilities

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has firmly ruled out Germany acquiring its own nuclear weapons, despite growing discussions about strengthening European deterrence. However, he left the door open to providing German fighter jets to support the deployment of nuclear weapons by France and the United Kingdom. This stance marks a shift from previous governments, as Merz has already discussed a joint European deterrence strategy with French President Emmanuel Macron. Germany is bound by the 2+4 Agreement and the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, which limits its options. NATO's current nuclear deterrence relies primarily on US nuclear weapons stored in Europe, including Germany. Macron's proposal for a joint European nuclear deterrent had previously been rejected by Angela Merkel and Olaf Scholz.