German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has ruled out the possibility of Germany acquiring its own nuclear weapons, amid growing debate over Europe’s nuclear deterrence.

In an episode of the political podcast “Change of Power,” due to be released on Wednesday, Merz said: “I do not want Germany to consider having its own independent nuclear armament.”

He pointed to Germany’s commitments under existing international treaties, including the “Two Plus Four” agreement that paved the way for German reunification in 1990 and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

However, Merz said it could be conceivable for German military aircraft to be made available for the potential deployment of French or British nuclear weapons.

Germany already participates in NATO’s nuclear sharing arrangements, with Tornado fighter jets stationed at Büchel air base in western Germany for the potential deployment of U.S. nuclear weapons.