NATO chief dismisses Macron nuclear call
The top of NATO on Saturday dismissed President Emmanuel Macron's require a European "strategic dialogue" about the role of France's nuclear weapons, saying a "proven" deterrent had been in place.
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said that because of the US and Britain's atomic weapons, Europe had been protected by a longstanding and effective nuclear umbrella.
While a NATO member, France will not make its atomic weapons open to the alliance, but in a major speech last week Macron called for dialogue among EU countries about what role the French nuclear deterrent could play.Stoltenberg, who this past year clashed with Macron over the French leader's claims NATO was suffering "brain death" in its geopolitical thinking, gave his latest suggestion a frosty reception.
"We have to understand that we have a European nuclear deterrent today 28 allies deliver that every day and it's not just a promise, but it's a thing that has been there for decades," Stoltenberg told reporters at the Munich Security Conference."It's tried and tested, we exercise it, and it's institutionalized, in fact it is the best security guarantee for Europe."
France is the EU's only nuclear power after Brexit and Macron has championed the idea of European "strategic autonomy" the opportunity to defend itself without relying on the US though he insists on his commitment to NATO.
Stoltenberg said France was a "highly valued ally" whose nuclear functions contributed to NATO's overall security.German Defense Minister Annegret Kramp-Karrenbauer welcomed the French suggestion while insisting it didn't mean undermining US nuclear protection."If we reinforce Europe, this means most importantly reinforcing the European pillar of NATO," she said.
