BERLIN, Feb 16 (Reuters) - Talks between German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron over creating a joint European nuclear deterrent are at an early stage and not aimed at diminishing the role of the United States, a German government spokesperson said on Monday.

“The aim of the talks is to explore how closer cooperation on nuclear deterrence can be achieved … The talks are still in the very early stages,” said the spokesperson during a regular press conference.

“This is not about replacing the U.S. protective shield, but rather supplementing and strengthening it … The United States plays a central role in NATO’s nuclear deterrence. That is the case now, and we want it to remain so in the future,” he added.

(Reporting by Ludwig Burger and Andreas Rinke, Editing by Friederike Heine)