'Germany may develop its own nuclear weapons with EU allies: ‘Talks are taking place’'

 Berlin is considering developing its own atomic weapons to bolster Europe’s nuclear umbrella and the US’s own stockpile in the region, according to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

Speaking before the German parliament Thursday, Merz said the country is in talks with its partner nations on the possibility of extending Europe’s nuclear arm, which currently involves Britain and France as the sole nations in the continent with atomic weapons.

“These talks are taking place,” Merz said, adding that the discussions were only in their initial phase.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz confirmed his country is considering creating its own nuclear arsenal.AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi

The German chancellor stressed that no decision would be made quickly nor would it “conflict with nuclear-sharing with the United States of America.”

The EU has long been dependent on the US when it comes to NATO’s nuclear power — but European nations are starting to pivot away from traditional conventions that have been upended by President Trump’s second term.

Germany is currently banned from developing nuclear weapons of its own under the Four Plus Two agreement that allowed East and West Germany to reunite in 1990.

As with most of the world, Germany is also a signatory of the 1969 nuclear non-proliferation treaty.

Merz said that while Germany has certain obligations to meet under the treaties, the pacts do not prevent a discussion on the matter with its partners.

Merz’s comments come as Thomas Roewekamp, the head of Berlin’s parliamentary defense committee, said Germany was fully capable of helping create more nuclear weapons for Europe.

“We do not have missiles or warheads, but we do have a significant technological advantage that we could contribute to a joint European initiative,” Roewekamp told Germany’s Welt TV.

The German initiative comes after the UK and France agreed last summer to form a nuclear deterrent pact to fend off “extreme” threats to the continent in the face of Russian aggression and fears that the US may pull military support under Trump.

Britain has around 225 nuclear warheads, a little less than the 290 France is believed to have, according to the Arms Control Association, which monitors nations’ atomic stockpiles.

The US has maintained around 100 nuclear missiles in the continent, the majority of which are stashed in American military bases in Germany.

https://nypost.com/2026/02/01/world-news/germany-may-develop-its-own-nuclear-weapons-with-eu-allies/