@@TheRealBlueValhalla I said "nuclear power" which means both reactors for energy + weapons. France has 290 warheads. The UK is also a nuclear power, but it's not a member of the EU. Not anymore.
This lady is so well articulated and so knowledgeable about what she is talking about! She answers the questions directly, clearly and properly. I feel actually more informed after this interview.
The EU already has nuclear weapons, indirectly via the French military. There must be a question about how reliable these nuclear umbrella is compared to that of NATO, which depends on the US nuclear arsenal. It was the US that did not want the EU member states to develop their own nuclear weapons. In fact, for a long time the US did not want states like Germany to have a strong military, this was because of fear over a rerun of WWI and Ii. To defend against Russia, a nuclear weapon state, the EU must have similar weapons as a deterrent.
The world cannot afford any nuclear war. We all know how much damage and destruction nuclear weapons can cause. We do not need WW3 to remind us again. We are living in the best era in all mankind history. Today, we have the most advanced, developed and liberal world that none of our ancestors could ever imagine. Promote peace and encourage diplomatic dialogs. Work on common interests and put the difference aside.
The french nuclear arsenal is sufficient for the strategic national defence plans of France but in no way sufficient for the entirety of Europa (4 SSBNs and a couple of ASMPs). Even with an expanded arsenal the major flaw in this idea is, that France will understandably never be ready for a strategic nuclear exchange against a minor tactical nuclear aggression somewhere in Europa at the expense of millions of french/european citizens. In other words, should russia attack the Baltics with some small tactical nukes, france would never start to bomb moscow and in return and risk the destruction of Paris and other major cities in a strategic nuclear exchange just to defend Narwa (a city in Estonia for example - this is where deterrence fails practically). These are the absurde and scary reflections you have to make in terms of a credible nuclear deterrence and I don't see any understanding for the true meaning and depth of this debate with european public interests. The EU in its current structures is not able to act fast and in a decisive way in security politics in case of a nuclear Aggression - deterence is not an automatism, it works only in combination with fully equipped conventional forces and a working chain of command that has the authority and the capability to act in case of aggression in an appropriate way. Who will carry the case with the red button Josep Borrell or Ursula von der Leyen and with whose authorisation (the importance and public interest of EU parliamentary elections would undoubtedly increase)? And don't forget that we signed a nuclear nonproliferation treaty. For now we can hope to maintain good relations under a possile next Trump term and maybe butter him up with some additional energy and weapons purchases so he can show some big cardboards into the camera as he did with MBS, and of course a firm and steady 2% (or even more) of national defence spending with multinational acquisition efforts. Nuclear arms-reduction treaties should also be negotiated and enforced again, optimally including China and others. And to @BL5608 suggestion, yes you are absolutely right, that is something we could not afford and that is why a propper deterrence is so important. And with respect to your suggestion of an ever more developed and liberal world, this would be wishful, but especially in a global context is sadly not true, the opposite would be more correct. Authoritarian and illiberal forces are on the rise globally, we are not in a unipolar fairy tale and never have been, but in an ever more disrupted multipolar system, where weaknesses and vulnerabilities are systematically exploited by varios forces for their own good. I would love to see your comment of "living in the best era in all mankind" with regards to people living in Somalia, Iran, Myanmar, Sudan, Yemen, eastern Ukraine, ... or with regards to the lack of fighting climate change on a global level, which will be a major contributor to future conflict. That is a dangerous generalization of western european emotional well-being on the world which is naive at best and dangerous at worst.
It is not suddenly! Germany was told for years to pitch in what was agreed upon when the Germans joined NATO. Stop making excuses. The world is shaped as it is shaped because of the two World Wars, and we know who played a big bad role in that.
This is not true. Germany was supposed to be the biggest battlefield of the Cold War, nuclear weapons were stockpiled on both Eastern and Western sides in great numbers. Germans imposed this pacific thinking on themselves after re-unification.
Europe has neglected its defense for so long. Germans are saying it may take 10 years for them to rebuild their military and it still may not be enough.
2% of Germany's GDP is like 10-12% of Poland's whole yearly GDP in one. Germany is going to have incredible army. Germany's GDP is 4.26 Trillion where as Poland has a considerably smaller GDP of 679 Billion. So if Germany spent only 2% of its GDP it would rearm at 5-6 times faster than Poland. They've awoken a beast.
But the currency conversion is not one for one, meaning the same amount of money can do more for less in Poland. I understand what you are implying though, Germany can still vastly improve its military from its current position.
Yeah people often go into this error of thinking. Same reason why people laughed off Russia in economic investment into the army, because in a dollarized fashion it didn't look that much, but in their local economy, it goes quite far. Similarly how in rural Hungary I'm building a house for under 15k$, whereas in some places in the UK and US thats half a years rent, or less.@@richrico2635
Actually (depending on estimates) Germany's total nominal GDP is 5 to 6 times larger than Poland's. Germany's 2% will be 10-12% of Poland's. But money is not everything. Look- for decade now Germany have had like 2 times larger total spending on army than Israel. Do you feel you are getting yours money's worth?
France has an independent nuclear deterrence (Its own designed and built missiles and servicing). It has far greater strategic autonomy than the UK. The UK has no independent nuclear force, it takes its missiles from US stock, even if the warheads are 'independently manufactured', some of us know this is not entirely true.
Indeed and some of the ongoing maintenance is conducted by American companies. It's unclear how 'independent' the UK deterrent could be outside of NATO. In principle the UK has operational control over it's deterrent but in practice it's unclear how that would play out in the long term.
France is not a slave state of US , no wonder it's respected in global south, unlike Germany which is a slave state US , which licks boots of US.. nobody in global south respects Germany , a slave state.
She seems to have no idea how nuclear deterrence works! If Trump takes away the US nuclear umbrella then European cities will certainly feel the Russian rain.
@@entropy5431Nato is the EUs deterrent. With or without the US nato states are bound to defend each other. Both the UK and France are nuclear powers and there nuclear weapons stockpiles are more than enough of a deterrent. Europe is far more capable militarily than Russia on every conventional level.
Someone should explain to you that you should watch a video in its entirety before writing a comment like that. She talks about it in the interview. And again I do the “work” and answer a “User”XYZ. I don't know why I keep doing this to myself.
Spending 2% per year this year, and perhaps next year, will of course magically make up for more than a decade of not spending 2% per year. Germans are so good at math...
"will Ukraine will the war with tomorrow with Taurus missiles tomorrow?! I don't think so" - I cannot believe she said that. It will help Ukraine defend land and win more land back more then other similar weapons !
How? There are about 600 Taurus missiles on this planet. How can Ukraine win a war with 600 bangs ? Ukraine would get a new ability which is great but abilitys dont win wars.
@@MukadisAymen-ui8fy I think the UK and France will enlarge and modernise their respective existing nuclear arsenals, and sign agreements with the other EU countries, maybe even placing some of them on other countries.
Finding people to join their respective countries militaries is the challenge. Even in the U.S. recruiting is down. The U.S. Army is paying $50,000 to enlist for a two year active and 6 year reserve commitment and still is 30,000 to 40,000 personnel short.
Yes, European states have signed many treaties, but they can also withdraw from them, if thous treaties can no longer benefit them, even more, if people demand it from their governments. All options should be counted and discussed, to correspond to current time, not to uphold treaties for treaties sake, wich where made in previous centuries, for different world.
Idk seems weird to me that Europe seems to be preparing for war. I know the trump comments with nato shook them but in the end you should be able to defend your own country. Spend the money and stop relying on the us, germany and the uk to defend you. Jusy my opinion, with china russia and iran only growing stronger military europe needs to follow suit. Those who dont remenber the past are condemned to repeat it, shape up europe.
" Spend the money and stop relying on the us, germany and the uk to defend you." The USA maneuvered itself into that position during the cold war, and never wanted to let those reigns go. And what rock have you been living under? Poland's much stronger than Germany at this time, and developing rapidly. If anything Germany's the biggest one that's been slacking... Stick to knitting instead of geopolitics if you're just going to blabber nonsense.
It's already clear that Europa cannot relay on American commitment anymore. "We stand with Ukraine as long as it takes". Didn't take long at all to fortify all that, didn't it? And for the better or the worse Germany will have to rise up to the challenge, meaning not only to increase military spending but to become one of the European leaders, militarily, or fade away into history.
I do not understand why should not we have nukes if we have Russia on our doorsteps with all the nuclear weapons? What other solution do we have apart of nukes and EU army?
So is this a subtle way of asking France to share their launch codes? Cause Britain is not in the EU and their nukes are dependent on American missiles and maintenance provided through NATO.
I'm not in the French president's head, but he may have in mind that, should the EU need to take military action on another front, France is the only country with a real capacity to respond. During the coup in Mali, France deployed thousands of soldiers in a matter of days, and its requests for help from other European countries went unanswered. Many European armies have not seen a military deployment of more than 100 soldiers at a time for 50 years....
The French military is not prepared for war. They do not have the manpower for a large scale war with having only two regular army divisions. They cannot meet their naval doctrine of two carriers, with them having just one. The French in Libya proved to be too little too ineffective to be capable for missions. Just because the French military is not in the same tier of joke as Germany is doesn’t mean that it’s prepared for the realities of this world. Edit: Also the recent coup in Mali and their failure of a military response to oust the russian client governments shows that French is no longer a world power. If France wants to be strong, it must adopt the South Korean Model and be willing to use their force to defend itself.
@@lembitmoislane. I never said France is a great power or they are capable to fight a large scale war. Russia will certainly not attack EU directly but test our willingness to fight and protect each other. I just said France is certainly the most capable EU member with thousands of soldiers with war experience. More than any other country in the EU. Don't you agree?
@@lembitmoislane. never said France is ready for a large war. But it is the only country in Europe capable to mobilize a significant number of soldiers with war experience. Not enough, I agree, but is there any country in the EU capable of more?
Nuclear weapon is sort of like threatening somebody with a hand grenade... BUT it works. If EU obtained its own nuclear weapon, the chances of seeing Russian tanks at the Brandenburg Gate would suddenly become microscopic.
France doing less than germany?.... im not sure about that. France might be spending less, but they are they have a lot of good stuff. Fully kitted out army, navy and airforce. France is the only contry in europe that can acutally defend it's self. Even the UK isnt looking that good next to the french. I'd say its a great time to be french.
She clearly stated afterward, what she meant by that. So, real translation: for 2023, 2024 and 2025 this will be achieved with the special fund - What happens afterwards is still in the air.
@@philipkoene5345 It's 2024 already in case you hadn't noticed, and Germany is still not at 2%. This amount was agreed upon back in 2014, it's well beyond time for superficial announcements and dithering.
France has asked european countries since the end of WWII to work together to be independant of the USA influence. 80 years later it is actually in plain sight that we need european cooperation in the Nuclear detherence. France is self sufficient as it produce its own fissile materials and arsenal. The UK are reliant on the USA and they are also an island and showed lately with brexit that we cannot count on them. The USA have worked relentlessly for decades to avoid a military colaboration between France and other countries, especially Germany.
I’m a trump supporter but I don’t agree to when he said he will let Putin do w.e to our allies we American love our nato partners we will protest that he will help our NATO allies
I have to believe Trump is saying what has to be said to get Europe to wake up. I don’t think he would let Ruzzia really take Ukraine. I will keep listening to him, though, before I vote. I hope Trump keeps my vote.
cool man. because I dont think Trump is always wrong either. I can agree with him on his border views and so on. but when he talk like that about NATO its pretty scary 😂 even tho my country spends more then minimum, but we are next to Russia, and we tiny, so for our independence, there are only 3 ways: 1. Russia dissapear 2. EU gets single army 3. or we have US back up. otherwise we are tiny country near Russia. we cant fight them alone. but you have to remember,.we always vote with USA on international matters and we do admire USA as an allie since before we were allies. our country isnt getting millions from USA anyway. the only fact that USA is so strong and declare defensive alliance deters others from attacking us. Trumps foreign policy is a bit whacky. he is friends with enemies and making enemies out of friends
@@Grandadcm Hope to believe???...Trump has said that he wants Russia to invade Europe....the budget thing is a poor excuse...Trump love dictators...specially Putin, he has said many times...when people will wake up.....he doesn't care about Europe...don't even think he wants to europe wake up...he wanted to dismantle NATO and wekened Europe..Trump is pro soviet
In recent years it has happened to me (even though I am a woman), that every time I see a woman in a leadership position, I begin to doubt if she was the most qualified, or if she is only there to pander social movements. Before hear the whole interview, is she talking about pacifism or something?
A high school student who works for the American military consortium is now a military advisor. This girl comes here and says that we should spend 100 billion buying F35s and weapons from America. England and Germany are in recession according to the International Monetary Fund. Germany switched from dependence on cheap energy from Russia to dependence on expensive energy from the United States. Germany and Europe should look after their interests and not depend on either Russia or the United States.
More than her sex or age whats Surprise me every time is how this serious meetings are so luxurious and in a cocktail party mood. It only shows me how apart from reality are all politicians in the west world. I know the must dress well but that is a slap on the face first for the people they suppose to serve so all citizens but ever worst to the people fighting and risking their lives
You seem to be forgetting that US has assured German freedom since WWII. All that at financial cost to US taxpayer. Germans built their economy at American expense with lavish social benefits. Maybe Trump is right. Lt's see Russian troops in Reichstag again. It seems that Germans have poor memory. So we will wave to you as Russians march you to Siberia. LOL
I for one am hoping that Poland will go through with their 90s initiative to get their own nuclear program sooner or later. Poland only stopped that initiative as a trade off for joining NATO, in the current situation of US being unreliable, I would bet money that idea will get resurrected.
There is very weak nuclear deterrence with the NATO nuclear bombs (double keys US/UE and no propulsion - gravity launch). This is only political sharing by the US. In case of major conflict with major conflict with a nuclear power, UE would be left bh the US like Ukraine as a compartimented battleground between two nuclear powers. UK nuclear is not sovereign. French nuclear is not shareable but this protects the EU, Macron just said last week in sweden that EU vital interest are french vital interest.
mistaken understanding, jailing the right and sending weapons to kiev doesnt help, bec it takes manpower to win wars not bombs, thats why ukraine losing, why not unite with the right then engage with putin, atleast then EU can say the right failed
Of course they are... Yesterday they legalized weed! At least thats a huge step of defence for their own country, weed should be reborn a symbol of peace and get the same love as "Pride". Legalisation is a act of peace and a act of peace is a act of defense.
Why would the UK provide a European-wide nuclear deterrence (outside of NATO)? That's a pretty big question. In 10-15 years countries like Germany could be back on Russian energy, signing more and more contracts, getting ever closer to Moscow again, when the UK is left with an expensive nuclear arsenal and Cold War levels of animosity. Similar with France although that's easier to envisage due to being part of the EU. We often hear the words "reliable partner" uttered from German politicians but maybe the question should be "is Germany a reliable partner". I apologise if anyone is offended by this, I'm not trying to be bashful but this is a huge ask from Germany.
"Why would the UK provide a European-wide nuclear deterrence (outside of NATO)?" Errr...you're aware, that most EU27 member states are NATO member states as well? And why is Germany a "not reliable" partner? Oh dear, Brexit-related brain damage 😂 Btw, the British and German air forces are doing the air policing at the Baltics since years, ALWAYS with British/German cockpit crews 😊 Greetings from the EU27 🖐
@@mikethompson3305 Your waffling about "Germany not being reliable, back to Russian energy etc" you think is NOT foolish? The EU27/Germany will replace all fossil fuels (oil, coal, nat gas) with green hydrogen, the goal is focused on 2030-2045. Hydrogen can be used as storage battery for the overloads from the offshore windmills and others as well as raw material for proceeding things like steel, glass, paper etc as well. Lots of start ups are working on alternative storage possibilities as well. Electrolyseurs (wind to power) are under construction everywhere as well. Greetings from the EU27 🖐
@@saba1030The UK would honour her NATO commitments to NATO members but not to the EU. Those commitments do not include an exchange of nuclear missiles with Russia. France would feel exactly the same, dream on EU27. As such the EU has no nuclear deterrent.
It alway surprise me how posh and over the top are this kind of serious meetings its like they are in a celebrity cocktail party. It only shows me how apart from reality are all politicians in the west world. I know they must dress well but that is a slap on the face first for the people they suppose to serve so all citizens but even worst to the people fighting and risking their lives
Congrats to US for opening new weapon business deal with Germany. More money for US......yay. US should have more plan to get more business deal from other EU countries.
Ideally yes but reductions in defence spending also meant lack of investment into european fighter development. As a result there is now no 5th gen european fighter available. Eurofighter is a good plane but it is aging.
Germany is definitely not doing enough. It hasn't bankrupted itself yet. German sovereignty bonds would be greedily devoured by US financial institutions. Except for the US a debtor-nation has no future.
I mean this in the most respectful way to Germany. During the second war you had the Best, the absolute best industries and technology. The Americans took your scientists and top people, sure. But you're really telling me you cannot out compete the Americans in military technology. 😂😂
I care more about Poland's perspective on the best way to handle the future of Europe post the war in Ukrainian. Germany has fumbled the ball one to many times and their continued position at the top next to France is questionable at best at the moment. I dont have any faith in Germany becoming a military power on the European field despite the money being thrown at it's redevelopment but the culture and the people have no heart in it, Ukraine is still to abstract for most people who are incapable of emotionally understanding that Russian wont stop in Ukraine (they want the The Suwałki Gap). Germany might say it will never forget what happened in WWII but they sure forgot about the cold war fast. I am liking the idea of a modern European power block that more closely resembles the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth.
@DW News: once again an very interesting interview this time with Mrs. Ulrike Franke from EU Council on Foreign Relations - I like it, Interesting = 1 Like
I think it would be wiser if all country's could afford to disarm and never use weapons on them selfs as a golden rule and only have space weapons to destroy asteroids and comets and other space stuff coming towards earth. Establishbthisbrealnsoon I think it's gone be a more wiser and profound way out of aolll this halting human kind from reaching a higher realm of existence into the future.
its interesting. when experts knew the Grippen was the best fighter for Ukraine, EU discouraged a transfer. That was the time to really ramp up defense industry in Europe, and the US was hoping that would happen. Why not? No one ever asks.
France is a nuclear power and also a member of the EU. So technically, the EU already has nukes.
Yes.
Does nuclear energy mean they have nuclear weapons?
France has both nuclear weapons and nuclear energy.
@@TheRealBlueValhalla
I said "nuclear power" which means both reactors for energy + weapons.
France has 290 warheads.
The UK is also a nuclear power, but it's not a member of the EU. Not anymore.
But nobody trusts the french.
This lady is so well articulated and so knowledgeable about what she is talking about!
She answers the questions directly, clearly and properly. I feel actually more informed after this interview.
I think you mean she is very articulate-but she is well articulated as well😂
Wow, Franke gave a great interview! So much information in such a short time! Thank you, Franke!
her name is Ulrike ;)
Yeah it was a good interview and she wasn't pulling her punches.
@@elcerrado I don’t know her well enough to call her by her first name. I’m assuming Franke is her last name.
yeah, you're right. If we don't know someone in Germany, we usually say their first and last name. And Ulrike sounds much nicer too ;) @@Grandadcm
The EU already has nuclear weapons, indirectly via the French military. There must be a question about how reliable these nuclear umbrella is compared to that of NATO, which depends on the US nuclear arsenal. It was the US that did not want the EU member states to develop their own nuclear weapons. In fact, for a long time the US did not want states like Germany to have a strong military, this was because of fear over a rerun of WWI and Ii. To defend against Russia, a nuclear weapon state, the EU must have similar weapons as a deterrent.
So true, they forget our history. Like who kept Soviet from collapsing during WW2 for their personal needs.
What are you smoking? France is the most unreliable NATO member after Turkey. They've always threw the EU under the bus when it suited them.
The French nukes are under French, not EU and not even under NATO, control.
The world cannot afford any nuclear war. We all know how much damage and destruction nuclear weapons can cause. We do not need WW3 to remind us again.
We are living in the best era in all mankind history. Today, we have the most advanced, developed and liberal world that none of our ancestors could ever imagine.
Promote peace and encourage diplomatic dialogs. Work on common interests and put the difference aside.
The french nuclear arsenal is sufficient for the strategic national defence plans of France but in no way sufficient for the entirety of Europa (4 SSBNs and a couple of ASMPs). Even with an expanded arsenal the major flaw in this idea is, that France will understandably never be ready for a strategic nuclear exchange against a minor tactical nuclear aggression somewhere in Europa at the expense of millions of french/european citizens. In other words, should russia attack the Baltics with some small tactical nukes, france would never start to bomb moscow and in return and risk the destruction of Paris and other major cities in a strategic nuclear exchange just to defend Narwa (a city in Estonia for example - this is where deterrence fails practically). These are the absurde and scary reflections you have to make in terms of a credible nuclear deterrence and I don't see any understanding for the true meaning and depth of this debate with european public interests. The EU in its current structures is not able to act fast and in a decisive way in security politics in case of a nuclear Aggression - deterence is not an automatism, it works only in combination with fully equipped conventional forces and a working chain of command that has the authority and the capability to act in case of aggression in an appropriate way. Who will carry the case with the red button Josep Borrell or Ursula von der Leyen and with whose authorisation (the importance and public interest of EU parliamentary elections would undoubtedly increase)? And don't forget that we signed a nuclear nonproliferation treaty.
For now we can hope to maintain good relations under a possile next Trump term and maybe butter him up with some additional energy and weapons purchases so he can show some big cardboards into the camera as he did with MBS, and of course a firm and steady 2% (or even more) of national defence spending with multinational acquisition efforts. Nuclear arms-reduction treaties should also be negotiated and enforced again, optimally including China and others.
And to @BL5608 suggestion, yes you are absolutely right, that is something we could not afford and that is why a propper deterrence is so important. And with respect to your suggestion of an ever more developed and liberal world, this would be wishful, but especially in a global context is sadly not true, the opposite would be more correct. Authoritarian and illiberal forces are on the rise globally, we are not in a unipolar fairy tale and never have been, but in an ever more disrupted multipolar system, where weaknesses and vulnerabilities are systematically exploited by varios forces for their own good. I would love to see your comment of "living in the best era in all mankind" with regards to people living in Somalia, Iran, Myanmar, Sudan, Yemen, eastern Ukraine, ... or with regards to the lack of fighting climate change on a global level, which will be a major contributor to future conflict. That is a dangerous generalization of western european emotional well-being on the world which is naive at best and dangerous at worst.
The world imposed pacific thinking in Germany for 70 years, why suddenly do we expect them to be leading a major military / defensive effort?
Because their security and future are on the line!!!
It is not suddenly! Germany was told for years to pitch in what was agreed upon when the Germans joined NATO. Stop making excuses. The world is shaped as it is shaped because of the two World Wars, and we know who played a big bad role in that.
@@barrylane1055 you mean, the terrorist attacks on the German critical energy infrastructure - Nord Stream pipe line? OK, got it.
Great point! I've not seen this sentiment expressed enough online.
This is not true. Germany was supposed to be the biggest battlefield of the Cold War, nuclear weapons were stockpiled on both Eastern and Western sides in great numbers. Germans imposed this pacific thinking on themselves after re-unification.
Europe has neglected its defense for so long. Germans are saying it may take 10 years for them to rebuild their military and it still may not be enough.
We have maybe 2 years.
EU needs to stop talking and wringing its hands, and start issuing contracts, like 2 years ago
Excellent interview. Ulrike Franke clearly knows her stuff, and can articulate the complex issues very well.
2% of Germany's GDP is like 10-12% of Poland's whole yearly GDP in one. Germany is going to have incredible army. Germany's GDP is 4.26 Trillion where as Poland has a considerably smaller GDP of 679 Billion. So if Germany spent only 2% of its GDP it would rearm at 5-6 times faster than Poland. They've awoken a beast.
But the currency conversion is not one for one, meaning the same amount of money can do more for less in Poland. I understand what you are implying though, Germany can still vastly improve its military from its current position.
Yeah people often go into this error of thinking. Same reason why people laughed off Russia in economic investment into the army, because in a dollarized fashion it didn't look that much, but in their local economy, it goes quite far. Similarly how in rural Hungary I'm building a house for under 15k$, whereas in some places in the UK and US thats half a years rent, or less.@@richrico2635
max 370.000 soldiers (2+4)
edit: Germany
You are rather wrong. It is maybe 3x poland gdp 2x population so it is 6x poland. But poland spends 4% so it will be 3x
Actually (depending on estimates) Germany's total nominal GDP is 5 to 6 times larger than Poland's. Germany's 2% will be 10-12% of Poland's.
But money is not everything. Look- for decade now Germany have had like 2 times larger total spending on army than Israel. Do you feel you are getting yours money's worth?
Isn't France a member of the EU?
I guess its not EUs nuke tho 😂
They have a separate semi secret nuclear program they are not even sharing with Nato.
@@robertmax88 France has own nukes. The USA have nukes in Belgium, Italy, Germany and the Netherlands.
France has an independent nuclear deterrence (Its own designed and built missiles and servicing). It has far greater strategic autonomy than the UK. The UK has no independent nuclear force, it takes its missiles from US stock, even if the warheads are 'independently manufactured', some of us know this is not entirely true.
Indeed and some of the ongoing maintenance is conducted by American companies. It's unclear how 'independent' the UK deterrent could be outside of NATO. In principle the UK has operational control over it's deterrent but in practice it's unclear how that would play out in the long term.
France is not a slave state of US , no wonder it's respected in global south, unlike Germany which is a slave state US , which licks boots of US.. nobody in global south respects Germany , a slave state.
She seems to have no idea how nuclear deterrence works! If Trump takes away the US nuclear umbrella then European cities will certainly feel the Russian rain.
@@randomguy7175 nobody really cares about the opinion of the global south.
@@peterlaurie1247 Russia will feel likewise. France will not sit out and do nothing.
Someone tell her that France has them. Does she know this?
France would not use them to retaliate for anyone other than France, so the EU has no deterrent.
@@entropy5431Nato is the EUs deterrent. With or without the US nato states are bound to defend each other. Both the UK and France are nuclear powers and there nuclear weapons stockpiles are more than enough of a deterrent. Europe is far more capable militarily than Russia on every conventional level.
@@ricardosmythe2548 The NATO commitment is to defend each other in the case of hostilities. Not a nuclear exchange.
Someone should explain to you that you should watch a video in its entirety before writing a comment like that. She talks about it in the interview. And again I do the “work” and answer a “User”XYZ. I don't know why I keep doing this to myself.
Spending 2% per year this year, and perhaps next year, will of course magically make up for more than a decade of not spending 2% per year. Germans are so good at math...
It is a vital Interest for the EU to become at least the second largest nuclear power
Mrs. Franke is an extraordinary and knowlegeable element of the Collective Security of Europe and NATO!!!🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
I'm glad this reporter is at the conference.
But it should, because against a nuclear force a conventional army is useless without a deterrent.
"will Ukraine will the war with tomorrow with Taurus missiles tomorrow?! I don't think so" - I cannot believe she said that. It will help Ukraine defend land and win more land back more then other similar weapons !
How? There are about 600 Taurus missiles on this planet.
How can Ukraine win a war with 600 bangs ?
Ukraine would get a new ability which is great but abilitys dont win wars.
No single weapon system is ever going to turn a war, ask the germans with their V2's...
The EU has the means, knowledge and capacities to make their own nuclear arsenal..
That is true but without the permission of their masters in Washington they can't proceed...
@@MukadisAymen-ui8fy I think the UK and France will enlarge and modernise their respective existing nuclear arsenals, and sign agreements with the other EU countries, maybe even placing some of them on other countries.
@@lucasgssilveira that will be a great idea that will be better than depending on the Americans 4 our security ....
This is not for tomorrow but for now.
So we’re suppose to believe Russia is weak when they can manage 4.1% and Germany (the strongest economy in Europe) might have trouble maintaining 2%?
You know what comes after the % sign in this statement, right? Its GDP. And the German GDP is twice the Russian GDP.
Ulrike Franke is a great speaker, very articulate, intelligent and good looking. How come I never knew she exists…?
I never heard common sense questioning about peace, the ambition and the aim of hegemonies and hatred easily to understand from this conversation.
Hold ur horses/ponies, this girl is specialized in nukes
She probably read a book about it.
She does even know more about drones - nick name Dr. Drone
Smart people in Germany. Great interview.
The people yes but not the government unfortunately
Finding people to join their respective countries militaries is the challenge. Even in the U.S. recruiting is down. The U.S. Army is paying $50,000 to enlist for a two year active and 6 year reserve commitment and still is 30,000 to 40,000 personnel short.
Yes, European states have signed many treaties, but they can also withdraw from them, if thous treaties can no longer benefit them, even more, if people demand it from their governments. All options should be counted and discussed, to correspond to current time, not to uphold treaties for treaties sake, wich where made in previous centuries, for different world.
Does anyone remember the 1930's? Lots of treaties between European countries.
I love her. Shes so intelligent and beautiful. A rare combination
Danke
Idk seems weird to me that Europe seems to be preparing for war. I know the trump comments with nato shook them but in the end you should be able to defend your own country. Spend the money and stop relying on the us, germany and the uk to defend you. Jusy my opinion, with china russia and iran only growing stronger military europe needs to follow suit. Those who dont remenber the past are condemned to repeat it, shape up europe.
Of course EU is building up defence, we have a very aggressive neighbour in the east and there is war in Europe.
And us kinda force that depedency by "helping" them in exchange of selling expencive weapon system... Wich they really profit and make monney from.
" Spend the money and stop relying on the us, germany and the uk to defend you."
The USA maneuvered itself into that position during the cold war, and never wanted to let those reigns go.
And what rock have you been living under? Poland's much stronger than Germany at this time, and developing rapidly.
If anything Germany's the biggest one that's been slacking...
Stick to knitting instead of geopolitics if you're just going to blabber nonsense.
"... in the end you should be able to defend your own country." Wrong! You haven't understood the idea of NATO.
anything can happen as Biden is still in the office .
I love watching videos where she is interviewed. I don’t always agree with her but she is very thoughtful.
It's already clear that Europa cannot relay on American commitment anymore. "We stand with Ukraine as long as it takes". Didn't take long at all to fortify all that, didn't it? And for the better or the worse Germany will have to rise up to the challenge, meaning not only to increase military spending but to become one of the European leaders, militarily, or fade away into history.
was their some other plan but to stand up?
She's very competent!
Why can’t the EU produce enough to protect their selves from Russia??? If the USA doesn’t come to the rescue then EU is in service trouble.
We have no plans of attacking the EU, why would we
The Fallout from the Unification of Germany.
I do not understand why should not we have nukes if we have Russia on our doorsteps with all the nuclear weapons? What other solution do we have apart of nukes and EU army?
France and the UK both have.. that us Europe... ( EU is not a security org)
Interesting and sobering conversation.
This gal is sharp. Not just a pretty face
So is this a subtle way of asking France to share their launch codes? Cause Britain is not in the EU and their nukes are dependent on American missiles and maintenance provided through NATO.
Trident is an American missile but the UK's deterrent is completely independent.
I'm not in the French president's head, but he may have in mind that, should the EU need to take military action on another front, France is the only country with a real capacity to respond. During the coup in Mali, France deployed thousands of soldiers in a matter of days, and its requests for help from other European countries went unanswered. Many European armies have not seen a military deployment of more than 100 soldiers at a time for 50 years....
The French military is not prepared for war. They do not have the manpower for a large scale war with having only two regular army divisions. They cannot meet their naval doctrine of two carriers, with them having just one. The French in Libya proved to be too little too ineffective to be capable for missions. Just because the French military is not in the same tier of joke as Germany is doesn’t mean that it’s prepared for the realities of this world.
Edit: Also the recent coup in Mali and their failure of a military response to oust the russian client governments shows that French is no longer a world power. If France wants to be strong, it must adopt the South Korean Model and be willing to use their force to defend itself.
they only were able to deploy thanks to the us airforce heavy lift command i wonder if we got paid
@pascalmg6209: The Danes came to assist France in Mali, but where later made "Unwanted" by Mali-government, and had to return home.
@@lembitmoislane. I never said France is a great power or they are capable to fight a large scale war. Russia will certainly not attack EU directly but test our willingness to fight and protect each other. I just said France is certainly the most capable EU member with thousands of soldiers with war experience. More than any other country in the EU. Don't you agree?
@@lembitmoislane. never said France is ready for a large war. But it is the only country in Europe capable to mobilize a significant number of soldiers with war experience. Not enough, I agree, but is there any country in the EU capable of more?
Americans are tired of paying for the defense of Europe. The EU can borrow money just like the US
Nuclear weapon is sort of like threatening somebody with a hand grenade... BUT it works. If EU obtained its own nuclear weapon, the chances of seeing Russian tanks at the Brandenburg Gate would suddenly become microscopic.
France doing less than germany?.... im not sure about that. France might be spending less, but they are they have a lot of good stuff. Fully kitted out army, navy and airforce. France is the only contry in europe that can acutally defend it's self. Even the UK isnt looking that good next to the french. I'd say its a great time to be french.
This is not the real germany
"Yes, it is true that Germany is gonna meet the 2% goal.....more or less". Translation: It's never going to happen 😂
She clearly stated afterward, what she meant by that. So, real translation: for 2023, 2024 and 2025 this will be achieved with the special fund - What happens afterwards is still in the air.
@@philipkoene5345 It's 2024 already in case you hadn't noticed, and Germany is still not at 2%. This amount was agreed upon back in 2014, it's well beyond time for superficial announcements and dithering.
France has asked european countries since the end of WWII to work together to be independant of the USA influence. 80 years later it is actually in plain sight that we need european cooperation in the Nuclear detherence.
France is self sufficient as it produce its own fissile materials and arsenal. The UK are reliant on the USA and they are also an island and showed lately with brexit that we cannot count on them. The USA have worked relentlessly for decades to avoid a military colaboration between France and other countries, especially Germany.
think tank 😂😂😂👍
=
limited thinking=think not 😂😂😂🤣
Germany must rebuild their army to WW2 level
I’m a trump supporter but I don’t agree to when he said he will let Putin do w.e to our allies we American love our nato partners we will protest that he will help our NATO allies
we can support them from the states like it was intended
I have to believe Trump is saying what has to be said to get Europe to wake up. I don’t think he would let Ruzzia really take Ukraine. I will keep listening to him, though, before I vote. I hope Trump keeps my vote.
cool man. because I dont think Trump is always wrong either. I can agree with him on his border views and so on. but when he talk like that about NATO its pretty scary 😂
even tho my country spends more then minimum, but we are next to Russia, and we tiny, so for our independence, there are only 3 ways:
1. Russia dissapear
2. EU gets single army
3. or we have US back up.
otherwise we are tiny country near Russia. we cant fight them alone.
but you have to remember,.we always vote with USA on international matters and we do admire USA as an allie since before we were allies.
our country isnt getting millions from USA anyway. the only fact that USA is so strong and declare defensive alliance deters others from attacking us.
Trumps foreign policy is a bit whacky. he is friends with enemies and making enemies out of friends
@@Grandadcm Hope to believe???...Trump has said that he wants Russia to invade Europe....the budget thing is a poor excuse...Trump love dictators...specially Putin, he has said many times...when people will wake up.....he doesn't care about Europe...don't even think he wants to europe wake up...he wanted to dismantle NATO and wekened Europe..Trump is pro soviet
@@robertmax88EU should have an army honestly. Why should the USA over the ocean be in charge for Europe.
Uk and France both have nukes
EU is not only Germany and France...
WOW! At last Germany is going to meet 2%
yes, looks like it. After 10 years
how much of that 2% is for pregnant transgender soldiers safe spaces and gymnasiums vs actual combat capability?
Well said! Better than many European leaders for that matter!
We need conventional armaments, a lot. I don't see Russia winning the war easily cause it has nukes
What are you talking about? Russia makes more ammunition in a day than the USA in a month.
Why? Do you believe that God has granted only the USA the right to use nuclear weapons in war?
@@trumpforever6706 Russian nukes won't work, like all their weapons.
Without US cover remember Japan WWII.
In recent years it has happened to me (even though I am a woman), that every time I see a woman in a leadership position, I begin to doubt if she was the most qualified, or if she is only there to pander social movements. Before hear the whole interview, is she talking about pacifism or something?
she is qualified and had probably worked harder to get where she is than her male counterparts.
😂😂😂😂
Very well spoken and informed interviewee.
How do you get a job as a defense analyst? Is there a huge demand for one? 😂
Who's this Franke? would love to listen to her more often.
Kudos my girl.
EU doesn't have enough nukes.
A high school student who works for the American military consortium is now a military advisor. This girl comes here and says that we should spend 100 billion buying F35s and weapons from America. England and Germany are in recession according to the International Monetary Fund. Germany switched from dependence on cheap energy from Russia to dependence on expensive energy from the United States. Germany and Europe should look after their interests and not depend on either Russia or the United States.
Rugged individualism promoted by Russia to suckers.
Misogyny and ageism
More than her sex or age whats Surprise me every time is how this serious meetings are so luxurious and in a cocktail party mood. It only shows me how apart from reality are all politicians in the west world.
I know the must dress well but that is a slap on the face first for the people they suppose to serve so all citizens but ever worst to the people fighting and risking their lives
You seem to be forgetting that US has assured German freedom since WWII. All that at financial cost to US taxpayer. Germans built their economy at American expense with lavish social benefits. Maybe Trump is right. Lt's see Russian troops in Reichstag again. It seems that Germans have poor memory. So we will wave to you as Russians march you to Siberia. LOL
@@chavaraujo It's dumb af to expect them to be poor. Poor people don't have time to run for office.
I for one am hoping that Poland will go through with their 90s initiative to get their own nuclear program sooner or later. Poland only stopped that initiative as a trade off for joining NATO, in the current situation of US being unreliable, I would bet money that idea will get resurrected.
I salute tha woman strong word
Scholz is going to hit the 2% target and not increase military spending. If it can be done, Scholz will do it.
There is very weak nuclear deterrence with the NATO nuclear bombs (double keys US/UE and no propulsion - gravity launch). This is only political sharing by the US. In case of major conflict with major conflict with a nuclear power, UE would be left bh the US like Ukraine as a compartimented battleground between two nuclear powers. UK nuclear is not sovereign. French nuclear is not shareable but this protects the EU, Macron just said last week in sweden that EU vital interest are french vital interest.
Hypocrites!
she is good
Europe needs European engineered and manufactured, unified army!
mistaken understanding, jailing the right and sending weapons to kiev doesnt help, bec it takes manpower to win wars not bombs, thats why ukraine losing, why not unite with the right then engage with putin, atleast then EU can say the right failed
Of course they are... Yesterday they legalized weed! At least thats a huge step of defence for their own country, weed should be reborn a symbol of peace and get the same love as "Pride". Legalisation is a act of peace and a act of peace is a act of defense.
Answer: NO
Why would the UK provide a European-wide nuclear deterrence (outside of NATO)? That's a pretty big question. In 10-15 years countries like Germany could be back on Russian energy, signing more and more contracts, getting ever closer to Moscow again, when the UK is left with an expensive nuclear arsenal and Cold War levels of animosity. Similar with France although that's easier to envisage due to being part of the EU.
We often hear the words "reliable partner" uttered from German politicians but maybe the question should be "is Germany a reliable partner". I apologise if anyone is offended by this, I'm not trying to be bashful but this is a huge ask from Germany.
"Why would the UK provide a European-wide nuclear deterrence (outside of NATO)?"
Errr...you're aware, that most EU27 member states are NATO member states as well?
And why is Germany a "not reliable" partner?
Oh dear, Brexit-related brain damage 😂
Btw, the British and German air forces are doing the air policing at the Baltics since years, ALWAYS with British/German cockpit crews 😊
Greetings from the EU27 🖐
@@saba1030 That was a foolish reply and doesn't warrant further consideration.
@@mikethompson3305
Your waffling about "Germany not being reliable, back to Russian energy etc" you think is NOT foolish?
The EU27/Germany will replace all fossil fuels (oil, coal, nat gas) with green hydrogen, the goal is focused on 2030-2045.
Hydrogen can be used as storage battery for the overloads from the offshore windmills and others as well as raw material for proceeding things like steel, glass, paper etc as well.
Lots of start ups are working on alternative storage possibilities as well.
Electrolyseurs (wind to power) are under construction everywhere as well.
Greetings from the EU27 🖐
@@mikethompson3305 France alone has more nukes and in some respects a better military than the Uk..
@@saba1030The UK would honour her NATO commitments to NATO members but not to the EU. Those commitments do not include an exchange of nuclear missiles with Russia. France would feel exactly the same, dream on EU27. As such the EU has no nuclear deterrent.
It alway surprise me how posh and over the top are this kind of serious meetings its like they are in a celebrity cocktail party. It only shows me how apart from reality are all politicians in the west world.
I know they must dress well but that is a slap on the face first for the people they suppose to serve so all citizens but even worst to the people fighting and risking their lives
Congrats to US for opening new weapon business deal with Germany. More money for US......yay. US should have more plan to get more business deal from other EU countries.
Prigmatic approach
Why not keep the money in Europe by buying French .Swedish or the Eurofighter .
F35s are replacing the old Tornado jets as bombers. Eurofighters are multi-purpose fighter jets but not specifically bombers.
Ideally yes but reductions in defence spending also meant lack of investment into european fighter development. As a result there is now no 5th gen european fighter available. Eurofighter is a good plane but it is aging.
France is in EU and they have nukes! You think other EU countries are not contributing to French nuke program? Think again!
Does anyone have suggestions for good european defense stocks to invest in?
Rheinmetall??
Rheinmetal, Sabb, Dassault, BAE, and of course the all-star performer, Russian company Rostec.
EU should cancel all F35 orders and buy Swedish or French jets instead
US nukes can be carried by F-35s only...those nukes are in the EU27 as well...
And heavily invest in our 6th generation programs, FCAS and GCAP
Vassal states dont have that option
@@kingb3 Good thing that's not a thing outside your country.
@@kingb3 right Ivan
Germany is definitely not doing enough. It hasn't bankrupted itself yet. German sovereignty bonds would be greedily devoured by US financial institutions. Except for the US a debtor-nation has no future.
Russians seem worried
Am from Kenya ineed you am Raymond
I mean this in the most respectful way to Germany.
During the second war you had the Best, the absolute best industries and technology. The Americans took your scientists and top people, sure. But you're really telling me you cannot out compete the Americans in military technology. 😂😂
Germany is still under military restrictions by the Allies since 1945...which got confirmed again at the reunion...
Why women have become better military analysts than men these days?
This has nothing to do with gender.
I care more about Poland's perspective on the best way to handle the future of Europe post the war in Ukrainian. Germany has fumbled the ball one to many times and their continued position at the top next to France is questionable at best at the moment. I dont have any faith in Germany becoming a military power on the European field despite the money being thrown at it's redevelopment but the culture and the people have no heart in it, Ukraine is still to abstract for most people who are incapable of emotionally understanding that Russian wont stop in Ukraine (they want the The Suwałki Gap). Germany might say it will never forget what happened in WWII but they sure forgot about the cold war fast. I am liking the idea of a modern European power block that more closely resembles the Polish Lithuanian Commonwealth.
I heard the German army wants to fully electrify ALL equipment including planes 😳
H² in the long run. not electro ^^
ion propelled space lasers?
@@julonkrutor4649 It's still electric as they are using the h2 in a fuel cell, not combustion.
@@filonin2 the difference is, that you can build an H2 engine with the resources in Europa and that refueling is as fast as gasoline.
lol
Nonsense.
@DW News: once again an very interesting interview this time with Mrs. Ulrike Franke from EU Council on Foreign Relations - I like it, Interesting = 1 Like
If we can't trust EU with nukes then how did kim acquired them😂😂😂
From Russia,Iran, China,?
France
@@robertwhite7071actually, from Pakistan
The NK nuclear program began under the Soviets but they also bought some Pakistani scientists. Nobody knows exactly how they built it.
I think it would be wiser if all country's could afford to disarm and never use weapons on them selfs as a golden rule and only have space weapons to destroy asteroids and comets and other space stuff coming towards earth. Establishbthisbrealnsoon I think it's gone be a more wiser and profound way out of aolll this halting human kind from reaching a higher realm of existence into the future.
What world do you live in?
A pipe dream?
You can do that the day you can stop putting locks on all your doors.
@@filonin2 the 1960's?
Olof sholtz, liverwurst, vassal of the limp hot dog😂
Peekaboo!
russia is provoking european race?
no, Europe has provoked Russian race
russia is doing same mistake what he did in WW2 and then holocaust@@megaotstoy
@@killdevils7 you blame Russia for the Holocaust? You should talk to your History teacher...
@@megaotstoy no,ss army done holocaust against soviets(russian race)
A racist who doesn't know about races? Russia is part of Europe, too.
Why start now? Germany hasn't met their financial defence obligation for years.
Spending 2% (+100B for DE) on foreign made weapons instead of repairing the agriculture and urbanism in EU? Boy, this does not seem correct.
Chennoybi 😂😂
... And the human kind facing humanitarian needs.
America does more for Europe than Europe does for themselves 💀💀
Current affairs seem to prove the opposite.
70 years, when's enough? Ever?@@a5cent
Europe lost the ability to make competitive fighter jets ?
France makes Rafale jets, and they are pretty ok.
The Swedish Gripen is another one, which is robust and easy to maintain. Beside the Eurofighter. Stealth capabilities might be topic to discuss.
its interesting. when experts knew the Grippen was the best fighter for Ukraine, EU discouraged a transfer. That was the time to really ramp up defense industry in Europe, and the US was hoping that would happen. Why not? No one ever asks.
In the US, it was hoped the Grippen was going to be sent to Ukraine. EU discouraged. No one ever asks why.@@ikda12
You forget France they not only have nukes but also nuclear technology in general. Nuclear power reactors and Nuclear aircraft carrier
East Europe can not get a loan
With Trump's comments, some countries in Europe due to their geographical position can simply say, MIR EGAL 😂
Nope.