Berlin: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has ruled out the acquisition of German nuclear weapons amid debate over a European nuclear deterrent. "I do not want Germany to think about having its own independent nuclear armament," Merz said, according to the German Press Agency (DPA).

According to Qatar News Agency, the chancellor pointed to existing treaties in which Germany commits to refrain from acquiring nuclear weapons, including the Two Plus Four Agreement that paved the way for German reunification in 1990 and the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.

However, Merz said he could envision making German military aircraft available for a possible deployment of nuclear weapons.