Candidate for Chancellor: No need for Germany to pursue nuclear armament

Friedrich Merz, the candidate for Chancellor of Germany from the CDU/CSU bloc and the likely future head of government, has firmly ruled out the idea of Germany developing its own nuclear weapons.

In a recent interview, Merz was asked whether Germany should consider acquiring nuclear weapons in the future, Caliber.Az reports via German media.

His response was unequivocal: “In my view, there is no reason for this today,” Merz stated, making it clear that Germany does not see a need for nuclear armament at this time. The comments come amid growing discussions in Europe about military defense strategies.

Recently, French media reported that France is considering deploying nuclear-capable fighter jets to Germany should US troops withdraw from Europe. The move would be part of France's efforts to ensure its military presence on the continent in the face of evolving security dynamics. 

However, Merz’s stance remains opposed to expanding Germany's nuclear capabilities, aligning with his party’s pro-European defence policies. Meanwhile, Florian Philippot, leader of the Patriots party in France, expressed his disagreement with the idea of French nuclear-capable jets being stationed in Germany. Philippot argued that this would raise tensions in Europe and is not in the region's best interest.

By Naila Huseynova