Germany wants "nuclear sharing " discussion with France and Britain

France and Britain are unlikely to include European allies in their nuclear deterrence, analysts said after future German leader Friedrich Merz called for European defense "independence" and a possible "nuclear sharing". 

Faced with a seismic strategy shift by the United States, Europe could be facing a future without America's nuclear umbrella, which protected them throughout the Cold War and in the decades since.

Germany's election winner Merz said last week he wanted a discussion on "nuclear sharing" with France and Britain, western Europe's only nuclear powers. Germany cannot acquire its own nuclear weapons without violating an international treaty on non-proliferation of which it is a signatory.