Jens Spahn, chair of the CDU parliamentary group, spoke to the “Handelsblatt” (Monday edition) about the growing tensions in trans‑Atlantic relations and urged that Europe – and Germany in particular – should become more autonomous.
He said Germany would reintroduce military service, beginning with a voluntary component and, if necessary, moving to compulsory service. “We also need to talk again about nuclear participation” he added, to which he replied that Germany should always seek European solutions if nuclear weapons were ever on the table.
Spahn warned that it is not wise to threaten the trans‑Atlantic friendship. “Without the United States we cannot guarantee security in Europe for the foreseeable future” he explained.
He expressed concern that AfD politicians are forging closer ties with U.S. Republicans. Spahn noted that several false narratives have taken root within that circle – the claim that Germany lacks freedom of speech or that political parties could be banned – narratives that the AfD seems to echo. Because of this, he is actively engaged in conversations aiming to inform and to strengthen the Union’s role in keeping the trans‑Atlantic partnership vibrant.
