23/07/2026
Under international law, Germany is not as irrevocably barred from acquiring nuclear weapons as is commonly assumed. In certain circumstances, Germany could be released from Article 3 of the Treaty on the Final Settlement with Respect to Germany (known as the Two Plus Four Agreement, or 2+4) and withdraw from the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). This would allow Germany to pursue a nuclear weapons program without violating international law—or to trade that latitude for renewed, credible security guarantees. This understanding should be a prerequisite for any serious strategic debate.
© Bundesregierung / Engelbert Reineke See all articles Article Wind of (Nuclear) Change Germany’s Legal Latitude After the NPT Review Conference Failure 23.07.2026 Under international law, Germany is not as irrevocably barred from acquiring nuclear weapons as is commonly assumed. In certain circu...