Germany’s chancellor-in-waiting has asked for the protection of Britain’s nuclear deterrent if Donald Trump withdraws US security guarantees for Europe.
Friedrich Merz said Germany needed to prepare in case the president ditched Nato promises to defend his allies.
The centre-Right Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader said he wanted Europe to have its own nuclear umbrella or at the very least be able to shelter behind Britain and France’s weapons.
Mr Merz is expected to win Sunday’s election and form its next coalition government at a time when there are fears the transatlantic relationship is breaking down.
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Emmanuel Macron has already suggested the French deterrent could be extended to the rest of Europe, but has been rebuffed by Germany until now.
Since then, Mr Trump has begun negotiations with Russia over ending the war in Ukraine over Volodymyr Zelensky’s head, and without involving European leaders.
The US president has undermined Nato’s Article 5, which states an attack on one alliance member is an attack on all, after suggesting to Putin that he would abandon any ally not spending enough on defence.
Starmer stands with Ukraine
Sir Keir Starmer has joined the Europeans in criticising Mr Trump for calling Mr Zelensky “a dictator”.
For his trouble, the US president accused him of doing “nothing” to end the war in Ukraine.
Sir Keir will soon announce a new package of military aid for Ukraine, and sanctions on Russia, in a veiled rebuke to Washington.
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In an olive branch to Mr Trump, the Prime Minister is expected to set the date of 2030 for British defence spending to hit 2.5 per cent of GDP when he visits the president on Thursday.
There are benefits to Britain offering Germany, and Europe, the shield of Trident.
Britain could prove to Washington that it is listening to the president’s demands that Europeans take responsibility for their own security.
The offer could also help the Government as it seeks to forge closer trade and defence ties in a “reset” of UK-EU relations.
Brussels was adamant that Britain’s defence and security power could not be traded for a divorce deal granting privileged access to the EU’s Single Market during Brexit negotiations.
It was also fearful London would go above the European Commission’s head and directly to EU capitals throughout the painful talks leading to Britain’s withdrawal from the EU.
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Mr Trump may have ushered in an era of nakedly transactional diplomacy but Sir Keir will have to be wary of accusations that the UK is attempting to hold the EU to ransom.
However, if skilfully done, the offer could not only build goodwill among European capitals but expose the Commission’s hypocrisy in insisting on its own quid pro quos.
The EU executive is still fighting old Brexit battles and insists on the purity of its red lines.
It refuses to negotiate better trade ties, or grant continued access to the EU’s electricity market, unless the UK first caves to its demands on access to British fishing waters.
Given the geopolitical situation, Sir Keir’s hopes of a defence pact also hang on fisheries in a negotiating tactic the EU calls “parallelism”.
Labour is reportedly ready to cave in to hard-nosed EU demands that the UK align with EU rules, and also agrees to a youth mobility deal.
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The CDU, faced with Germany’s shrinking economy, is keen to cement better ties with Britain, and after the rudderless years of Mr Scholz’s chancellorship, Mr Merz plans to reassert Germany’s leadership in the EU.
He will not want to overrule Ursula von der Leyen, the Commission president, who is a member of the CDU.
But British generosity now could pay off in the wee small hours of what are sure to be tough UK-EU negotiations.
Even if it does not pay off right now, standing with Ukraine means standing with Europe.
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