Overview

• A Forsa survey conducted June 12–13 for Internationale Politik finds 64% of Germans favor an independent European nuclear deterrent rather than relying on the US.
• Chancellor Friedrich Merz has initiated discussions with President Emmanuel Macron and Prime Minister Keir Starmer on building a shared deterrent under EU defense overhaul plans.
• Germany, France and the UK issued a joint statement urging Iran to refrain from further escalation in the Israel-Iran conflict after US military intervention.
• Majorities in all German political camps back the proposal, led by Green Party voters at 78% and CDU/CSU backers at 71%.
• Advocates cite the unpredictability of President Donald Trump’s policies and aim for greater strategic autonomy by 2030.