Former German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer has stated that Europe must fundamentally reassess its security strategy and seriously consider the possibility of establishing a shared European nuclear capability.
According to Fischer, today’s geopolitical realities have shown that the continent can no longer rely on the old security architecture. He emphasized that security guarantees from the United States are no longer as certain or reliable as they once were.
“American security guarantees are no longer reliable from this point on,” Fischer said in an interview with the German newspaper Tagesspiegel. This situation, he argued, places Europe in a position where it must assume greater responsibility for its own defense.
In this context, Fischer highlighted Germany’s role as a key actor in Europe, acknowledging that the country bears a special responsibility for leadership. However, he stressed that such leadership must not be unilateral or dominant, but exercised strictly in close cooperation with other European countries.
“Germany bears responsibility for leadership in Europe, but always only together with others,” he stated.
Fischer does not support the idea of Germany developing its own national nuclear weapon. Instead, he advocates a collective approach at the European Union level. He argues that a shared nuclear deterrent would strengthen Europe’s strategic autonomy and serve as a deterrent factor in an increasingly unstable international environment.
According to Fischer, such an initiative would require deep political debate, close coordination among EU member states, and a clear vision of Europe’s role on the global stage. Nevertheless, he views this step as inevitable if Europe wants to safeguard its interests and security in the future.
