German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on the campaign trail he was open to the idea — a major about-face for Germany, as Berlin had repeatedly refused similar offers in past decades.
Under France’s nuclear doctrine, there is a “European dimension” to the country’s so-called vital interests — which the weapons are designed to protect. However, what exactly that European dimension entails, and in which circumstances France might deploy its nuclear capacity beyond its own borders, is left purposefully vague.
Unlike the United Kingdom, France is not a member of NATO’s nuclear planning group.
In Friday’s conclusions, France and Germany also pledged to implement decisions taken at this year’s NATO summit, meaning boosting defense spending to 5 percent of GDP by 2030 and increasing weapons arsenals.
Paris and Berlin announced a new Franco-German initiative to develop a European early-warning system: “Space-based missile early warning system based on ODIN’s EYE project and a network of ground-based radars.” It’s dubbed JEWEL and open to other European countries.
France and Germany also used Friday’s council to push for a stronger EU role in Ukraine — and in Europe’s defense more broadly.