Russia would think twice about invading Europe if Germany had a nuclear deterrent, according to Lithuania’s defence minister.
In an interview with German publication Der Spiegel, Dovilė Šakalienė said:
A strong German deterrence can prevent Lithuanians from being slaughtered by Russians again. So why should we be afraid of such a Germany? The stronger Germany is, the more diverse its arsenal of deterrents, the less likely it is that we will be invaded by Russia.
While her words may be controversial, they reflect the angst of a host of European politicians who fear that the U.S. under President Donald Trump will pull its military support from Europe.
Similar sentiments have been expressed by French President Emmanuel Macron, who recently suggested that the U.S. can no longer be considered an ally and that France could extend its nuclear umbrella over Europe.
While the Lithuanian defence minister did praise the U.S. and Trump for always providing military assistance to her country when needed, she also called Germany “the strongest partner we have in Europe,” and the “essential protector of NATO’s northeastern flank.”
Dovilė Šakalienė added that nuclear weapons “are the only credible deterrent against Russia.”
