German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Tuesday that Berlin is prepared to discuss the creation of a Europe-wide “nuclear umbrella” but stressed that the United States’ existing nuclear deterrence remains indispensable for Europe’s security in the coming years and possibly decades. Speaking in Berlin, Merz called any autonomous European system a medium- to long-term undertaking, noting that “a large number of questions still need answers.” Merz’s remarks follow a weekend interview by CDU/CSU parliamentary leader Jens Spahn, who advocated a German-led European deterrent and argued that relying solely on U.S. weapons was insufficient over the long haul. The proposal drew immediate criticism from coalition partners and security analysts, and the chancellor’s measured response sought to cool a gathering political dispute. The chancellor confirmed he has accepted French President Emmanuel Macron’s invitation to explore ways France’s arsenal might contribute to a broader European shield, yet he said no concrete initiatives have emerged beyond preliminary contacts with Paris. Merz added that Germany’s priority is to keep the current NATO nuclear-sharing arrangement with Washington intact while Europeans strengthen conventional defenses. Germany hosts U.S. B-61 gravity bombs that could be delivered by German aircraft under NATO plans, but doubts over future U.S. commitments—particularly after Washington’s policy shifts—have revived interest in a home-grown European option. Critics warn that turning Germany into a nuclear power would carry major diplomatic and domestic risks and could erode existing arms-control frameworks.