EU will need own nuclear deterrent if Trump wins, Scholz ally warns

The European Union may need its own nuclear deterrent because it cannot rely on Nato support if Donald Trump becomes president, a close ally of Germany’s chancellor said.

Katarina Barley, a lead candidate for Olaf Scholz’s SPD party in the EU parliament elections, said recent statements about Nato deterrence by Mr Trump gave her doubts about whether Europe would be protected under the US nuclear umbrella.

On Saturday, Mr Trump said he would “encourage” Russia to attack Nato countries which did not meet the alliance’s spending commitments.

In an interview with the German newspaper Tagesspiegel, Ms Barley said: “The nuclear deterrent for Europe lies with Nato. As Nato secretary general Jens Stoltenberg rightly noted, it remains in the Americans’ interest to provide this significantly.

“Given Donald Trump’s recent statements, this can no longer be relied upon. This could also become an issue on the way to a European army.”

Joe Biden condemned Mr Trump’s comments on Tuesday. “It’s dumb. It’s shameful. It’s dangerous. It’s un-American,” Mr Biden said. “When he looks at Nato, he doesn’t see the alliance that protects America and the world. He sees a protection racket.”

Under the terms of the so-called nuclear umbrella, the US provides deterrence and protection for Nato countries in return for them not pursuing their own nuclear weapons programmes.

The key exceptions are Britain and France, two of nine countries worldwide which possess nuclear weapons along with Russia, Pakistan, Israel, China, India, the US, and North Korea.

As it has long relied on the US nuclear umbrella, the EU does not have its own nuclear weapons programme. 

But Ms Barley’s remarks suggest the idea is beginning to be discussed more seriously in Germany.

It comes after similar proposals were raised in 2020 by Emmanuel Macron, the French president, which failed to gain broader European support at the time.

Mr Scholz also joined in the condemnation of Mr Trump’s comments.

“Nato’s promise of protection applies without restrictions: all for one, one for all. Any relativization of the guarantee of assistance is irresponsible and dangerous,” he said in a post on social media.

At his rally on Saturday, Mr Trump revealed a discussion he once had with an unnamed Nato leader. 

He said: “I said: ‘You didn’t pay? You’re delinquent?’... ‘No I would not protect you, in fact, I would encourage them to do whatever they want. You gotta pay.”

Mr Trump’s claims prompted a swift rebuke from Mr Stoltenberg who warned that they put all Nato members at risk.

He said: “Any suggestion that allies will not defend each other undermines all of our security, including that of the US.”