Der Spiegel: Germany and France launch consultations on nuclear deterrence
The German Der Spiegel magazine reported that Berlin and Paris have begun pre-planned talks to strengthen cooperation in the field of nuclear deterrence.
According to the magazine, German Deputy Chancellor for Foreign Affairs Günter Sautter traveled to Paris on May 27 to attend the first round of talks, which also included other European countries.
Der Spiegel stated that the next Franco-German meeting is scheduled to take place in Germany before the summer parliamentary recess, which begins on July 4.
In March, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron issued a joint statement pledging to deepen cooperation between the two countries in the field of nuclear deterrence.
The statement indicated that the two sides agreed to take the first concrete steps this year, including the participation of the German armed forces in French nuclear exercises and joint visits to strategic sites, as well as the development of conventional weapons in cooperation with European partners.
According to Der Spiegel, Germany is scheduled to participate for the first time in the Poker exercises in 2026, most likely in September.
Initially, Berlin will have an observer role, with the German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) later able to provide support not directly related to nuclear weapons, such as escorting fighter jets or aerial refueling.
Last February, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius announced that his country’s participation in French initiatives to create a European nuclear umbrella would be limited to conventional defense means, ruling out any involvement in France’s nuclear program.
Germany refuses to participate in the French nuclear umbrella and will limit itself to traditional support for European deterrence.
Under Article 3 of the Final Settlement Treaty on Germany, which entered into force on 15 March 1991, the Federal Republic of Germany renounced the production, possession and use of nuclear, biological and chemical weapons.
By the end of June 1991, the Soviet Union had withdrawn all its military nuclear components from the territory of the former German Democratic Republic.
However, US nuclear weapons remain on German soil as part of NATO’s strategic deterrence against potential adversaries. Unconfirmed reports suggest that approximately 20 US nuclear warheads are stationed at Büchel Air Base in Reitania-Palatinate.
In 2010, members of the German Bundestag voted overwhelmingly in favor of tasking the government with negotiating with Washington on the withdrawal of US nuclear weapons from the country’s territory.
However, the German government announced at the time that it wouldn’t take any unilateral action without coordination with its NATO partners.
