Germany joins Norway as observers at the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons

[TomWilm]

The German Coalition government has just released its draft coalition government agreement in which it would commit to observing the first meeting of states parties of the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
This news follows last month’s decision by Norway to commit to observing, and firmly indicates that there should be no conflict with the TPNW for Nato member states. More are sure to follow.
Recent polls say that the vast majority of voters across democratic parties in Germany support the TPNW (83%) and oppose acquisition of nuclear capable aircraft.

[translated]".. We need a disarmament policy offensive and want to take a leading role in strengthening international disarmament initiatives and non-proliferation regimes, including: at the Stockholm Nuclear Disarmament Initiative.
We will work to ensure that the NPT Review Conference provides a real impetus for nuclear disarmament.
Our goal remains a world free of nuclear weapons (Global Zero) and, as a result, a Germany free of nuclear weapons. We are strongly committed to a follow-up agreement to NewSTART which, in addition to new strategic nuclear weapons systems, also includes short and medium-range systems.
We advocate negotiations between the USA and Russia on complete disarmament in the sub-strategic area. We want to involve nuclear weapon states like China more closely in nuclear disarmament and arms control.
In the light of the results of the review conference of the NPT and in close consultation with our allies, we will constructively support the intention of the treaty as observers (not as members) at the conference of the parties to the nuclear weapons ban. ..."

Coalition agreement 2021-2025 between the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), Alliance 90/The Greens and the Free Democratic Party (FDP)

Here is some background info. And...

NATO threatens to move nuclear arms closer to the Russian border:
From a speech by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Germany November 19:
"... Germany can, of course, decide whether there will be nuclear weapons in your country, but the alternative is that we easily end up with nuclear weapons in other countries in Europe, also to the east of Germany. ..."