French President Emmanuel Macron has previously said that the European Union (EU) needs to strengthen defense capabilities in the context of changing US priority.
On February 24, the Telegraph reported that France is ready to expand nuclear deterrence capabilities to other EU countries and deploy fighter jets carrying nuclear weapons to their headquarters in Germany.
The article appeared in the context that Mr. Friedrich Merz, leader of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), whose party just won the German parliamentary election on February 23, called on the UK and France to expand nuclear protection for Germany.
Currently, France's nuclear arsenal, estimated at about 300 warheads, operates independently of NATO, while the UK's nuclear capabilities are integrated into the bloc's defense strategy.
German diplomatic sources told The Telegraph that negotiations on the issue have not yet begun, and Germany is unlikely to make an official demand for an EU nuclear shield unless the US withdraws its nuclear weapons from the country.
However, the CDU is said to be interested in a nuclear cell and was willing to pay for it. Diplomats also note that the prospect of France deploying nuclear weapons in Germany could put pressure on the UK to follow.
Meanwhile, a French official told The Telegraph that deploying nuclear-weapone fighters in Germany will not be too difficult and will send a strong message to Russia.
This commentation hinted at concerns among some EU leaders that Russia could launch an attack on the bloc in the future, which the Kremlin has repeatedly denied.
The Telegraph also confirmed that French President Emmanuel Macron discussed the issue with think tank Merz and presented his European security plan to US President Donald Trump.
Trump has previously said the US will not engage in any security pledges with Ukraine after reaching a peace deal.
President Macron has also previously called on the EU to develop a large-scale defense plan, increase military spending and create a European army amid rising tensions with Russia and uncertainty about Washington's commitment to protecting Europe.
Mr Trump has repeatedly expressed dissatisfaction with NATO members' defense spending in Europe and threatened to withdraw US protection against countries that do not contribute enough.
Russia has repeatedly denied its intention to attack NATO, President Putin called these speculations "unreasonable". Moscow also reaffirmed its commitment not to disseminate nuclear weapons and stressed that its nuclear doctrine only allows the use of nuclear weapons when the country's sovereignty or existence are under threat.
The Kremlin has also repeatedly criticized NATO's continued expansion, calling it one of the main causes of tensions in the Ukrainian conflict.
