By Ayhan Simsek
BERLIN (AA) - Germany's defense minister on Friday ruled out nuclear armament for his country, stressing that the US nuclear umbrella will remain the cornerstone of European defense.
"The nuclear deterrence is achieved and is provided, and will be provided by the US, at least for the foreseeable future," Boris Pistorius said at a joint news conference in Krakow with his Polish, French, British, and Italian counterparts.
He stressed that the new National Defense Strategy of the Trump administration gives a clear commitment to US nuclear responsibility in Europe and demonstrates that the Americans will continue to play a vital role in NATO and beyond.
"And I don't believe the world becomes a safer and more peaceful place with even more nuclear weapons in Europe," the Social Democrat politician said. "Germany signed at least two treaties and said we will never have nuclear weapons. I know we will remain committed to that signature and to those treaties. We won't have any."
Pistorius said Germany's talks with France on nuclear deterrence and defense capabilities did not signal a change in Berlin's long-standing policy and were focused on conventional measures. "It is about supporting that conventionally, by conventional measures, but not in terms of nuclear participation. And that, I think, is quite clear," he said.
In recent months, several senior European politicians have questioned whether the US nuclear guarantee can still be taken for granted because of President Donald Trump's unpredictable stance and often conflicting messages. Some politicians have suggested the European Union should develop its own nuclear deterrence capabilities.