Headlines
Merz eyes European nuclear shield in call for new relationship with U.S
Published by Global Banking & Finance Review®
Posted on February 13, 2026
1 min readLast updated: February 13, 2026
Quick Summary
German Chancellor Merz suggests a European nuclear deterrent in talks with France, aiming to bolster EU-US relations and strengthen NATO.
Merz Proposes European Nuclear Deterrent in U.S. Relationship Shift
European Nuclear Deterrent Discussion
MUNICH, Feb 13 (Reuters) - German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Friday that he was holding talks with French president Emmanuel Macron over creating a joint European nuclear deterrent as urged on Europe to rebuild its relationship with its U.S. ally.
Merz's Vision for NATO
"We're not doing this by writing NATO off. We're doing it by building a strong, self-supporting European pillar within the alliance," he said in a speech opening the Munich Security Conference.
Collaboration with France
(Reporting by James Mackenzie and Sarah Marsh in Berlin; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
Key Takeaways
- •Merz proposes a European nuclear deterrent.
- •Talks held with French President Macron.
- •Aim to strengthen EU-US relations.
- •Focus on building a European pillar in NATO.
- •Speech delivered at Munich Security Conference.
Frequently Asked Questions about Merz eyes European nuclear shield in call for new relationship with U.S
1What is a nuclear deterrent?
A nuclear deterrent is a military strategy that uses the threat of nuclear weapons to prevent adversaries from taking hostile actions.
