Merkel: Germany is discussing the development of nuclear weapons with European allies
German Chancellor Merkel said on January 29 that Germany is discussing the possibility of expanding European nuclear weapons with partner countries, emphasizing that the discussion is in the early stages and a decision will not be made soon.
Merkel stated in her speech that the matters being discussed with European allies will not conflict with the U.S. nuclear sharing policy. The UK and France are the only two European countries with nuclear weapons, and they are also NATO members. NATO can provide nuclear weapons to other member states that have not developed nuclear weapons under the U.S. nuclear sharing policy.
Merkel also said that although Germany has certain obligations under historical treaties, these treaties do not hinder discussions with partners on this issue. After Nazi Germany's defeat in World War II, it split into East Germany and West Germany, and was unified through the "Final Settlement Treaty on Germany" (also known as the Two Plus Four Agreement) in 1990. Unified Germany is prohibited from developing nuclear weapons by the treaty, and Germany is also a state party to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
The New York Post reported and analyzed that the EU has long relied on the U.S. nuclear forces within NATO, but after President Trump returned to the White House, European countries began to move away from this convention.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1856000167473163/
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