Germany: Europe dependent on US nuclear weapons

TT

Published 18.01

 

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul met with Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard (M) in Stockholm on Monday. Photo: Jessica Gow/TT

Europe will continue to be dependent on the US nuclear umbrella “for a not insignificant time”, says German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) during a visit to Sweden.

Wadephul met with Swedish Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard (M) during a visit to Stockholm on Monday, and at a joint press conference he explained that Europe is “on its way” to eventually being able to defend itself with conventional means, in other words, to do without the US.

– We are on our way there, because we have now decided to allocate five percent of our gross domestic product to defense, and if we do so in the coming years, and Sweden and Germany are determined to do so, then of course we will be able to defend ourselves conventionally, says Wadephul.

When asked about the conditions for a common European nuclear weapons umbrella, Wadephul is more cautious.

– Europe must be aware that there is no quick solution, but that for a not inconsiderable time we will be dependent on the continued and functioning of American nuclear weapons protection.

The question of the role of the United States in the NATO defense alliance is highly topical after President Trump's proposal to incorporate Greenland into the United States.