I'm John Batchel with my colleague, Henry Sikolsky, the Executive Director of the Non-Proliferation Policy Education Center, nuclear weapons.

Since 1945, a quandary for every country that's approached them.

However, there are twists now in these last days that are, Henry guides me to understand as significant.

I begin with some news items.

For example, this is London reporting within these last days.

The U.S. is set to house nuclear weapons in Britain,

nearly two decades after the White House removed its last warheads.

And then we come to France.

EU leaders cautiously welcome Mr. McCrone's nuclear umbrella. They're talking about a remark on French television by the President of France. In an address to the

nation, Macron said he would launch a strategic dialogue over extending the protection offered by France's nuclear arsenal to its European partners,

seizing on comments from future German leader Friedrich Merritt. That guides us now to Germany. I mentioned earlier than Mr. McCrone's remarks.

There was talk when Mr. McCrone and Mr. Starrmer met in London

of Britain and France both adding their nuclear umbrellas

to the members of the EU or NATO who felt exposed because the Americans were no longer participating

in an active fashion or said to participate in Europe.

Henry, what about Germany?

What have we learned?

Well, the Germans are now pondering what they ought to do in the medium term.

In immediate, you know, I don't think they're doing anything.

They're talking.

But, you know, the new elected prime minister has voiced some indication that maybe in the future they would consider getting nuclear weapons

in some fashion.

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