Arms spiral: Jens Spahn calls for German access to nuclear weapons

Next step in the arms race: Jens Spahn, leader of the CDU/CSU parliamentary group, has advocated for Germany's immediate access to nuclear weapons . "Russian aggression is a completely new threat," Spahn told the "Welt am Sonntag" newspaper. "Europe must become capable of deterrence." To achieve this, he added, US nuclear bombs are also stationed in Germany – "but that's not enough in the long run."

"We need to talk about German or European participation in the nuclear weapons arsenal of France and Great Britain , possibly also about our own participation with other European states," said the CDU politician. That will cost a lot of money. "But those who want protection have to finance it," said Spahn.

The CDU politician said he was aware of the reservations in Germany about becoming a nuclear power. "I know what defensive reflexes are immediately aroused, but yes: We should have a debate about an independent European nuclear umbrella." This would only work "with German leadership." Spahn added: "Anyone who cannot deter nuclear weapons will become a pawn in global politics."

It cannot be assumed that a nuclear power like France would grant other allies final access to French nuclear weapons, Spahn said. "But there are several ideas for a European nuclear power, even if some initially sound convoluted and theoretical." As an example, he cited "the random rotation of responsibility among member states—then even a potential adversary remains in the dark."

The German Bundeswehr does not possess any nuclear weapons of its own. However, some nuclear weapons are stored at the Bundeswehr air base near Büchel in Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany, under US sovereignty. The Bundeswehr could be called upon to deploy these weapons of mass destruction in an emergency.

The basis is the NATO concept of "nuclear sharing" from the 1950s. It stipulates that, in the event of war, some NATO members would drop nuclear bombs from their aircraft on the major ally, the United States. During the Cold War, it was primarily directed against the Soviet Union. For decades, there has been debate about whether this concept might lead the enemy to view the country dropping the bombs as the originator of the nuclear strike, rather than the United States—thus limiting a potential nuclear war to Europe.