Most Germans oppose having personal nuclear arms amid fears that US President Donald Trump might pull out his atomic weapons from Europe, media stories stated Tuesday.
Some 64% are in opposition to the development of a German atomic bomb, whereas 31% are in favor and 5% haven’t any touch upon the problem, stated a Forsa survey revealed by the Hamburg-based weekly news journal Stern.
Compared to February 2024, nevertheless, the variety of supporters has elevated by 4 share factors.
As a results of its aggressor function in World War II, Germany has dedicated itself to non-nuclear protection in worldwide treaties, based on which it’s banned from buying nuclear weapons, similtaneously cooperating in NATO weapons-sharing agreements.
Germany’s incoming Chancellor Friedrich Merz stated on March 9 that he hoped the US atomic umbrella would stay in place, and {that a} European defend ought to be considered as a “complement” to it.
He stated he would attain out to France and Britain to debate the sharing of nuclear weapons, however warned that such a step couldn’t be a substitute for the US present protecting atomic defend over Europe.
“The sharing of nuclear weapons is an issue we need to talk about. We have to be stronger together in nuclear deterrence,” Merz advised public broadcaster Deutschlandfunk (DLF).
“We should talk with both countries (France and Britain) always, and in addition, from the perspective of supplementing the American nuclear shield, which we of course want to see maintained,” he added.
It is reportedly believed that about 20 US nuclear warheads are saved on the Buechel Air Base, positioned in southwestern Germany.
Neither NATO nor the US and German governments disclose exact numbers and places citing safety causes.
However, NATO has stated the US has deployed a restricted variety of B-61 nuclear weapons to places in Europe.
In 2022, Germany selected Buechel as the long run residence of 35 American-made F-35 plane. They will change their getting older Tornado jets, which Germany has relied on for many years.
Source: www.anews.com.tr