Nuclear weapons in Europe: Sigmar Gabriel calls for the expansion of nuclear capabilities in the EU

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Former Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel (SPD)

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Metodi Popov / IMAGO

Sigmar Gabriel (SPD) speaks out in the debate about nuclear weapons in Europe. The former foreign minister calls for the expansion of nuclear capabilities in the EU. »I never thought I would have to think about it. But Europe needs a credible deterrent. This includes a common nuclear component,” wrote Gabriel in a guest article for the magazine “Stern.”

"American protection will come to an end in the foreseeable future, the debate about where the replacement should come from must begin now," the former SPD leader continued. »If we don't answer this question, others will. For example Turkey. That can’t be our interest.”

The SPD politician urged the federal government to take the initiative. Germany, as Europe's largest economy, must "advance this debate and stop only being concerned with itself," Gabriel continued. He advocated a "major strategic offensive by Germany and France, ideally together with the British" to increase Europe's security.

Most recently, the SPD's top candidate for the European elections, Katarina Barley, sparked a debate with a statement about the EU's own nuclear weapons. On the way to a European army, “this could also become an issue,” she told the “Tagesspiegel” on Tuesday. Because “in view of Donald Trump’s recent statements” about NATO, the US’s nuclear protection “can no longer be relied upon.”

Criticism of Barley's statement

Left leader Marin Schirdewan sharply criticized Barley's statements; He accused the SPD of “saber rattling.” Barley's statements also met with criticism within the party. The SPD foreign politician Ralf Stegner described the push for common European nuclear weapons to the “Tagesspiegel” as an “extremely dangerous escalation.”

Trump, who wants to become US president again in November, said at a rally on Saturday that he would not come to the aid of NATO countries that did not spend enough on defense in an attack. He would then even encourage Russia to do “whatever they want” with them.

asc/AFP