PREVIEW

Belgium’s Theo Francken Tells Germany’s Friedrich Merz to ‘Keep Your Mouth Shut’ on Nuclear Weapons. Theo Francken publicly told Friedrich Merz to “keep your mouth shut” about nuclear deterrence. Francken criticized European leaders for being too “loose-lipped” on nuclear weapons in a post on X. In a podcast interview, Merz ruled out a German nuclear arsenal but suggested German jets could carry French or U.K. nuclear weapons. Germany and Belgium are both part of NATO’s U.S. nuclear-sharing arrangement, allowing them to carry American nuclear bombs. The remarks come ahead of a March 2 speech by Emmanuel Macron on France’s nuclear role in European security. Francken also claimed Merz’s comments effectively killed the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) fighter jet project. Belgium, currently an observer in FCAS, said it would reassess its participation following Merz’s remarks.
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