Allies fear Germany’s incoming government will go soft on nukes

GERMANY’S COALITIONSPDPNATOUNNATODCATPNW talks have done little to dispel its reputation for political dullness. After winning a majority in September’s election, the Social Democrats (), Free Democrats and Greens aim to wrap up negotiations next week on their “traffic-light” coalition (named after the parties’ colours) before taking office in early December. Bar the odd wobble the talks seem to have been largely straightforward. But Germany’s closest allies have been watching one issue with mounting alarm.The “3”—America, Britain and France, the three nuclear-armed allies that hold permanent seats on the Security Council—have two related concerns. First, that Germany may go soft on its involvement in ’s “nuclear sharing” arrangements, under which America stations up to 20 atomic bombs at Büchel Air Base in western Germany, while Germany maintains a fleet of dual-capable aircraft (s), from which they can be launched. Second, that the incoming government may flirt with the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (), an international disarmament effort.