The European Union considers its own nuclear umbrella in the face of Trump’s lack of reliability

The European Union must consider having a own nuclear umbrellagiven that this type of weapon is the only one that ensures complete deterrenceat a time when Donald Trump’s United States has ceased to be a reliable partner y Their commitment to protecting European partners cannot be taken for granted.

The debate was revived this week by the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallawhich alerts that European security has changed “radically” since Russia’s war of aggression against Ukrainewhile Donald Trump ignores Europe and threatens to leave a deterrence vacuum.

“Considering the situation and the fact that this (nuclear weapons) is the only thing that really works as a deterrent, it could be a topic of debate in future discussions“Kallas said in two newspaper interviews. Helsingin Sanomat y The world.

The head of community diplomacy regrets that the transatlantic alliance “is no longer what it was”but at the same time admits that “if we have more nuclear weapons around the world, we will not live in a more peaceful or less dangerous world.”

In his opening speech to the Munich Security Conference, the German Chancellor, Friedrich Merzhas announced that it has held “the first talks” with the French president, Emmanuel Macron, on “the European nuclear deterrent.”

“We are not doing this to discard NATO. We are doing it to build a strong and self-sufficient European pillar within the Alliance,” he maintains.

“We have entered into a strategic dialogue with Chancellor Merz and other European leaders, which is important to articulate nuclear deterrence in a comprehensive defense and security approach,” said Macron himself in Munich, who assures that he will give all the details in a matter of weeks.

At the recent summit of the European People’s Party in Zagreb – in which Merz himself and the president participated Ursula von der Leyenthe leader of the formation, Manfred Weberalso pressed in defense of a European nuclear shield, precisely in light of “new developments in the United States.” “It is necessary,” he stressed.

In his opinion, EU leaders should seriously consider Macron’s offer to make France’s nuclear arsenal available to Europe.

“I am totally in favor of the heads of State and Government accepting this proposal, meeting and studying How French nuclear weapons can be used to ensure European security“said Weber.

After the departure of the United Kingdom, France is the only member state that has this type of weapons, specifically, around 290 nuclear warheads, compared to more than 5,000 in the United States.

In a solemn televised speech in March 2025, the French president announced the opening of a “strategic debate on the protection of our allies on the European continent through our deterrence“.

At the same time, Macron also made it clear that “no matter what happens, the decision has always been and will remain in the hands of the President of the Republic, head of the armed forces.”

The French president’s offer was welcomed with interest by both Chancellor Merz and the Polish Prime Minister, Donald Tusk. ““France’s proposal to expand nuclear deterrent capabilities is something worth considering,” Tusk said.

However, in the past year There has been no concrete progress on Macron’s proposal.

The Government of Pedro Sanchez He has excluded himself from the debate. “We understand the solidarity on the part of France, but we believe that nuclear weapons and capabilities must be reduced,” said Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares. in an interview at To be.