Changing Attitudes in Germany: Nuclear Weapons and European Security

In Germany, nuclear weapons, a national taboo, are emerging as a political topic. As the threat from Russia increases and the possibility of the US withdrawing from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) is raised, public opinion is forming that the security landscape in Europe needs to change. fundamentally.

According to foreign media on the 15th (local time), Katarina Valli, a member of the European Parliament belonging to the Social Democratic Party led by German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, told Tagesspiegel on the 13th, “The issue needs to be discussed nuclear weapons. “

German Finance Minister Christian Lindner also said in an article for the Frankfurt Allgemeine Zeitung (FAZ), “The strategic nuclear forces of France and the United Kingdom already contribute to the security of our allies,” and added, “We believe that nuclear forces strategic France and the United Kingdom contribute to the security of our allies. recent comments will be used as an element of European security.” “It should be understood as a request to further reconsider (nuclear weapons),” he wrote.

Former US President Donald Trump increased the level of pressure on NATO for defense spending, saying that NATO member countries should pay more for defense costs or take responsibility for their own security even if Russia attacks a NATO ally .

Although European countries have recently increased their defense spending, it is undeniable that their security relies heavily on the 80,000 US troops stationed in Europe and the US nuclear umbrella.

‘Strategic autonomy’ is being discussed in Europe due to security threats arising from Trump. It is interpreted that some German politicians have also mentioned a European nuclear umbrella rather than NATO in this context. Currently, France is the only one in the European Union (EU) that possesses nuclear weapons.

Furthermore, Germany signed the ‘2+4’ Unification Agreement in 1990, banning the use and production of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons.

In addition to former President Trump’s comments, Minister Lindner drew attention to the fact that the war in Ukraine has led to major changes in Germany’s national defense. “It is now two years since the turning point in German security policy,” he wrote, “and it is becoming increasingly clear that the period following the end of the East-West conflict laid the foundations for security, stability and stability Germany. prosperity, has ended.”

Manfred Weber, a German and leader of the European People’s Party (EPP), the largest political faction in the European Parliament, also said, “We are not ruling out a European nuclear umbrella, and Macron has already made a vague offer to talk about it. the importance of French nuclear power to Europe.” “This will be that moment when Donald Trump openly questions America’s role as a protectorate,” he said.

If a nuclear umbrella is considered at European level, the question is who will provide the nuclear weapons. France’s current position is that it cannot expand its own nuclear deterrent to cover Europe.

Deutsche Welle (DW) pointed out, “It means that another EU country like Germany would have to acquire nuclear weapons,” and “Under the current circumstances, that seems unlikely .”

Rafael Roth, a security policy expert at the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), told DW: “Under the current circumstances, there is no reason for Germany to acquire nuclear weapons on its own, and there are good reasons for don’t do that. .”

“It would cause enormous disruption to the global nuclear order,” he said, adding, “It could trigger nuclear proliferation in other parts of the world and expose Germany to a severe international sanctions regime.”

(Seoul = News 1)

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