- April 16, 2025
- , 12:00
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- April 16, 2025
- , 13:30
The Aspen Institute Germany was pleased to host the event “Guarantor of Security or Unnecessary Risk: Should American Nuclear Weapons in Germany Be Reassessed?” on April 16, 2025 in cooperation with Initiative Junger Transatlantiker e.V. and Gesellschaft für Sicherheitspolitik e.V., Sektion Berlin. The event addressed whether Germany and Europe should continue to rely on the United States as the central nuclear power within NATO, or if a European alternative must be developed to free themselves from this dependency. The debate took the form of an “Oxford-Style Debate,” with two teams facing each other and discussing this topic with the help of a moderator. The younger generation was also represented to ensure diversity of perspectives within the teams. Each team advocated for a specific argument. Throughout the debate, the goal was to convince the audience of the team’s position. Team 1 argued that the stationing of American nuclear weapons in Germany should be maintained as an essential part of the transatlantic alliance and European security strategy. They emphasized that despite diplomatic tensions, the United States remains an indispensable actor in the nuclear deterrence architecture, ensuring closer cooperation and nuclear deterrence. Team 2, on the other hand, advocated for Germany and its European partners to free themselves from nuclear dependency on the United States. They argued that uncertainties regarding the reliability of the United States as an alliance partner make it necessary to develop a purely European security strategy, with France as a model for greater European autonomy in nuclear weapons policy. The audience had the opportunity to ask questions and vote for their preferred position before and after the debate. Thank you to all participants for an interesting debate!
