German defence minister stresses importance of US role in NATO

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has underscored the importance of maintaining U.S. membership in NATO, stating that the alliance must become “more European” in order to remain transatlantic.

Speaking upon arrival at a meeting of EU defence ministers in Brussels on February 11, Pistorius said Europe must assume greater responsibility for its conventional defence capabilities while preserving the security architecture built around the American nuclear umbrella.

“Our task must be to keep the Americans in NATO, using the formula I have been repeating for the past year and a half: NATO must become ‘more European’ in order to remain transatlantic,” he said.

Commenting on a proposal by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas to launch discussions on a potential European nuclear deterrent, Pistorius dismissed suggestions that Europe could replace the U.S. nuclear shield in the foreseeable future.

“One can speculate about anything, but anyone who believes we are in a position to replace the American nuclear umbrella now, in five or even 10 years — well, let them believe it. In my view, that would send the wrong signal,” he stressed.

The minister also noted that Germany is bound by the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and its commitments under the “Two Plus Four” Treaty, making it legally difficult for Berlin to consider developing its own nuclear deterrent.

Pistorius concluded by stating that there are “absolutely no signs” that the United States intends to withdraw from its commitments to the alliance.

By Vugar Khalilov