Germany must act “with great caution” on nuclear arms, says defence minister

German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has cautioned that any discussion regarding the development of nuclear weapons in Germany must be handled with the utmost restraint and in strict adherence to international law. He underscored that Germany is a signatory to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and has formally committed itself never to acquire nuclear arms.

Pistorius warned that should Berlin embark on the path toward developing nuclear capabilities, it could trigger a broader wave of proliferation.

“The consequences would be enormous,” he said, suggesting that other states might seek to follow Germany’s example.

Acknowledging ongoing debates at the European level, he referred to discussions involving French President Emmanuel Macron and German political leader Friedrich Merz. “Yes, there are options, and that is precisely what Macron and Merz are discussing,” Pistorius noted. However, he stressed his preference for concentrating on more immediate and practical defence priorities, including the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) fighter jet program and other tangible military initiatives, rather than shifting prematurely to the nuclear question. He made the remarks in an interview with Tagesschau.

The broader European context has intensified the debate. In October 2025, Germany was engaged in “strategic consultations” with France concerning the potential role of France’s nuclear arsenal in safeguarding Europe. Subsequently, in January 2026, Sweden announced that it had entered discussions with the United Kingdom and France about the possibility of extending their nuclear guarantees to Stockholm.

European nations are, for the first time since the Cold War, openly deliberating the establishment of a collective nuclear defence framework—an indication of shifting security calculations across the continent.

By Vafa Guliyeva