NATO expects Germany to stay in alliance's nuclear sharing

NATO expects Germany to remain part of the military alliance's nuclear sharing, Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said on Friday, referring to U.S. nuclear bombs on German soil that can be carried by German fighter jets in case of a crisis.

"The nuclear sharing is important because it is an arrangement where NATO allies go together and provide nuclear deterrence," Stoltenberg told reporters on a visit to Berlin.

"It gives also a country like Germany a seat at the table...I think this is extremely important for European allies because then we are involved, we take responsibility and we have a say," Reuters cited him as saying.

The next German government will have to decide about a replacement of the country's ageing Tornado fighter jets that have been tasked with the nuclear sharing. Some lawmakers are opposed to purchasing new jets.