As the possibility of Donald Trump securing the US presidency again looms, a senior German minister has suggested that the UK could play a role in a new European nuclear shield. This proposition has drawn British politicians into discussions regarding the strengthening of Europe's security in the event of Trump winning in November.
The debate over European nuclear deterrence has heightened following Trump's recent remarks, indicating that he would not defend any NATO member failing to meet the 2% GDP defense spending requirement. European leaders interpret this as a warning that the alliance's reliance on the US nuclear shield might be jeopardized under a Trump administration. Christian Lindner, the German finance minister and leader of the Free Democratic party, has called for an alternative model involving British and French nuclear weapons.
In an article for the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Lindner stated, "The strategic nuclear forces of France and Great Britain are already making a contribution to the security of our alliance." He suggested viewing Trump's statements as an opportunity to rethink European security under NATO's umbrella. Lindner emphasized the need to address difficult questions about the political and financial conditions under which Paris and London would maintain or expand their strategic capabilities for collective security.
The core issue in the nuclear debate is not necessarily whether Britain or France would offer their nuclear weapons to the EU, but whether these countries could agree to utilize them in a deterrence strategy for NATO's European alliance area.
Despite France keeping its nuclear deterrent outside NATO's command structure, Macron has offered cooperation with Europe on nuclear defense. Manfred Weber, the German conservative leading the center-right European People's Party, has supported this debate, not ruling out a European nuclear umbrella and calling for a "new chapter" of cooperation with London.
Donald Tusk, the Polish prime minister, expressed the need to take Macron's offer seriously, suggesting the Europeanization of nuclear weapons for a common security system. The issue is anticipated to be a theme in the upcoming European elections in June.
However, not everyone supports the idea. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius has urged caution, pointing out that Trump has yet to secure the Republican nomination. Some politicians, like Ralf Stegner, view the push for a common European nuclear arsenal as an "extremely dangerous escalation."
The UK has affirmed that its nuclear weapons would be available for use at NATO's request, particularly by the alliance's supreme allied commander Europe, and only in extreme circumstances of self-defense, including defending NATO allies. This commitment was made in the context of a US nuclear presence in Europe.
While the Labour Party promises to enhance defense cooperation with Europe, including reaching agreements with Germany, the pledge does not specifically address sharing Britain's nuclear deterrent.