00:00Friedrich Meritz confirmed something that would have been unthinkable a few years ago.
00:23Germany is now talking about nuclear protection beyond the United States.
00:30So, what's really happening here?
00:33Is Europe preparing its own nuclear shield?
00:36And is this the beginning of a future less dependent on Washington?
00:41Let's break it down.
00:42In the big development…
00:45In late January 2026, Meritz confirmed that Germany is in early-stage talks with its European
00:51allies, mainly France and the United Kingdom, the only two nuclear powers in Europe.
00:57The idea on the table is shared European nuclear umbrella.
01:03Not Germany building a bomb tomorrow, not replacing NATO overnight, but something still historic.
01:11For the first time, Europe's biggest economy is openly exploring nuclear security that
01:17doesn't rely entirely on the United States.
01:21Why this matters?
01:23Right now, Europe's ultimate security guarantee is American.
01:28Germany already participates in NATO's nuclear sharing program.
01:32It hosts an estimated 10 to 20 U.S. B-61 nuclear bombs at Buchel Air Base.
01:38German aircraft could deliver them in a crisis, but the final authority?
01:42That still belongs to Washington.
01:45So when Germany starts asking, what if the U.S. isn't always there?
01:49That's a massive shift.
01:53The trigger?
01:54Trump's return.
01:55This conversation didn't start in a vacuum.
01:58It accelerated after Donald Trump's return into the White House.
02:02Trump has once again taken an aggressive stance toward allies, pushing higher defense spending,
02:08questioning alliance commitments, and even reigniting controversy by expressing interest
02:13in Greenland, a Danish territory with huge strategic value.
02:18At one point, rhetoric escalated to threats of tariffs, even force.
02:23He later backed down into a vague framework deal, but the damage was done.
02:30For European leaders, the message was clear.
02:33U.S. guarantees are no longer unquestionable.
02:38This is where Germany and Europe's thinking changes.
02:41The goal is strategic autonomy, being able to deter threats, especially from Russia, without
02:47depending 100 percent on the American nuclear umbrella.
02:52Officials are careful with their language.
02:54They say this would complement, not replace, U.S. protection.
02:58But make no mistake, this is Europe hedging its bets.
03:04And NATO leadership is not thrilled.
03:06NATO Secretary-General Mark Root, speaking in January 2026, shut down illusions fast.
03:13He said, bluntly, if Europe thinks it can fully defend itself without the U.S., it should,
03:18quote, keep on dreaming.
03:21He warned that going fully independent would require defense spending near 10 percent of
03:27GDP and building a completely separate nuclear capability.
03:32In other words, lose the U.S. and you lose the ultimate guarantor of European security.
03:39Europe's response didn't erupt, but they didn't back down either.
03:44Many argue Root's comments missed the point.
03:46This isn't about cutting ties with America.
03:49It's about balance, insurance, and realism in an unpredictable world.
03:54More European defense spending, more joint military projects, and now, conversations about European-controlled
04:02nuclear deterrents.
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