German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Friday that Berlin had begun talks with France about a European nuclear deterrent, while President Emmanuel Macron said Europe had to become a geopolitical power given the Russian threat would not disappear, according to Reuters.
Merz, who said the region had to become stronger in order to reset its relationship with the United States, called in a speech to open the Munich Security Conference, on Washington to "repair and revive trust" in a dangerous new era of great power politics, warning the U.S. could not go it alone as the old global order crumbles.
He was later followed by Macron, who pushed back on criticism of the continent, but said it was time that Europe was more assertive and prepared itself with a stronger security architecture.
The speeches underscored how European leaders are increasingly looking to carve an independent path after a year of unprecedented upheaval in transatlantic ties, while also striving to maintain their alliance with Washington.
Europe faces myriad threats from Russia's war in Ukraine to massive ructions in global trade.
"I have begun confidential talks with the French President on European nuclear deterrence," Merz said. "We Germans are adhering to our legal obligations. We see this as strictly embedded within our nuclear sharing in NATO. And we will not allow zones of differing security to emerge in Europe."
Macron is due to make a speech on the nuclear deterrent later this month.
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