Berlin Reportedly Weighs Funding UK Nuclear Arsenal Amid Growing Russian Threat

Germany is reportedly considering helping finance the UK’s nuclear program to bolster’s Europe’s deterrence and reduce its dependence on the US. According to an exclusive report by the British newspaper The Telegraph, Berlin is seeking greater involvement in Europe’s existing nuclear programs, developed by the UK and France, rather than pursuing their own nuclear arsenal.JOIN US ON TELEGRAMFollow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official. “We have a very strong interest that the existing nuclear powers in Europe extend their capabilities,” a diplomatic source in Germany was quoted as saying by the Telegraph. Another source quoted by the outlet said: “There is thinking and talking about how the existing nuclear capabilities [such as Trident] may play a bigger role for the defence of Europe, and of deeper cooperation among European countries.” Nuclear deterrence The reported talks come as European countries seek to strengthen their defenses amid growing concerns about Russia and uncertainty over Washington’s commitment to the US military presence in Europe. “Policymakers are waking up each morning and asking themselves what the hell the Americans are going to do tomorrow,” the diplomatic source in Germany was quoted as saying by The Telegraph. The UK and France are the only European countries, apart from Russia, that have independent nuclear arsenals. Germany is also among the NATO members that host US nuclear weapons under the alliance’s nuclear-sharing policy. Other Topics of Interest France Warns of New Hybrid Threat After Leipzig Drone Attack France’s intelligence chief warns the Leipzig incident could foreshadow attacks on defense, energy and communications infrastructure. Germany is believed to host US nuclear weapons at Büchel Air Base. WikiMedia/Stahlkocher However, the reliability of the arrangement is facing growing scrutiny as US President Donald Trump’s long-term commitment to NATO appears to be fading. Growing concerns The reported discussions also come amid concerns over whether Russia could escalate its war in Ukraine, including through the use of nuclear weapons, or attack a NATO member state. On Tuesday, US intelligence chief John Ratcliffe traveled to Moscow, with media reports suggesting that the surprise visit could have been intended as a warning to the Kremlin against escalating the conflict with NATO. Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly threatened to use nuclear weapons since launching the invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Moscow, which has the world’s largest nuclear arsenal, stations some of its nuclear weapons in Belarus, which borders with Ukraine and three NATO member states. TVP World is Poland's first English-language channel where you can find our guest interviews, world news from the Polish perspective and the latest news from the CEE region.