Discussions between German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron on establishing a joint European nuclear deterrent are still in the early stages and are not intended to reduce the role of the United States, a German government spokesperson said Monday, according to Reuters.
“The purpose of the talks is to explore how closer cooperation on nuclear deterrence can be achieved… The discussions are still at a very early stage,” the spokesperson said during a regular press briefing.
“This is not about replacing the U.S. defense shield, but rather about complementing and strengthening it… The United States plays a central role in NATO’s nuclear deterrence. This is the current situation, and we want it to remain so in the future,” he added.
