We simply must become stronger together in nuclear deterrence in Europe,' Merz, expected to become Germany's next chancellor, said in an interview as the continent seeks to respond to US President Donald Trump's upending of the transatlantic alliance.

Germany's chancellor-in-waiting and leader of the Christian Democratic Union party (CDU) Friedrich Merz looks on as he gives a statement with Bavarian state premier and leader of the Christian Social Union (CSU) Markus Soeder,

German chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz is open to negotiations regarding the joint use of nuclear weapons between the United Kingdom and France. However, he does not rule out the protection of the United States,

Chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz said he would like to speak with France and Britain about sharing their nuclear weapons.

Germany needs to talk to France and Britain about jointly increasing European nuclear deterrence, conservative leader Friedrich Merz said on Sunday. Speaking to national public radio Deutschlandfunk,