Topic: 2025 – No First Use Policies and Nuclear Disarmament
Country: Germany
Delegate Name: Colin Pattison
Disarmament & International Security Committee
No First Use Policies and Nuclear Disarmament
Federal Republic of Germany
Colin Pattison
Forest Hills Eastern High School
After World War II, Germany renounced producing its own nuclear weapons, instead relying on U.S. nuclear weapons. Although post-World War II Germany has not experienced nuclear weapons and their destruction, Germany recognizes the potential risk and danger posed by nuclear weapons. In 1968, West Germany signed the Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), affirming that it wants to halt the spread of nuclear weapons and pursue nuclear disarmament. West Germany’s signing of the NPT stayed with the country when it reunified in 1990, despite the confusion on the subject. Despite agreeing with all these terms, Germany participated in nuclear sharing under NATO, hosting around 7,300 nuclear warheads in 1971. Furthermore, in 1998–1999, Germany tried to help pass the Non-First Use (NFU) treaty; however, this treaty ultimately did not pass in NATO as a whole, failing. Ultimately, in the past, Germany has tried to agree to first-use policies and agrees with nuclear disarmament; however, it has also recognized the need to use nuclear weapons for defense.
As of right now, Germany has repeatedly supported NFU and nuclear disarmament; unfortunately, NATO has frequently rejected these policies. Germany does not currently have any NFUs in place and is still under NATO’s nuclear umbrella. Germany actively holds roughly 20 U.S. B-61 nuclear bombs from this nuclear umbrella for defense, although Germany still supports gradual, multilateral disarmament through treaties such as the NPT (which it has already ratified). Ultimately, Germany agrees with Non-First Use policies and nuclear disarmament, but has been unable to pass treaties such as the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) because they do not align with NATO’s views.
For the future, Germany does want NATO to eventually accept an NFU, as well as gradual, multilateral nuclear disarmament. Germany also supports future treaties on the disarmament agenda, such as the Comprehensive Nuclear-Test-Ban Treaty (CTBT) and the Fissile Material Cut-Off Treaty (FMCT). Germany wants to pursue a nuclear-weapon-free future; however, current and future geopolitical conditions challenge that goal. Worries about Russia’s future motives and plans force Germany to recognize the future importance of nuclear weapons for defense. In the end, Germany wants to gradually remove nuclear weapons and encourages NATO to adopt an NFU in the future, but has faced difficulty accomplishing these due to NATO policies and the geopolitical climate.
