Manfred Weber and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen (Image: GETTY)

       Calls by top eurocrat Manfred Weber for the European Union to be equipped with its own nuclear deterrent are “shocking and worrying”, Reform UK deputy leader Ben Habib has said.

       And the party’s candidate in the forthcoming Wellingborough by-election claimed it provided evidence that the bloc has “gone rogue”, claiming that any such development would in itself represent “a threat to world peace”.

       Mr Weber made his remarks hours after US Presidential candidate Donald Trump won the New Hampshire primary - putting him on track for a return to the White House.

       Mr Trump is believed to be considering pulling the plug on funding for NATO in a move which would have massive implications for Europe.

       Speaking earlier this week as he returned from a trip to Ukraine, Mr Politico: "We want NATO, but we also have to be strong enough to be able to defend ourselves without it or in times of Trump.

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       Ben Habib described Manfred Weber's remarks as 'worrying and shocking' (Image: Getty)

       "Regardless of who is elected in America, Europe must be able to stand on its own in terms of foreign policy and be able to defend itself independently.

       "Europe must build deterrence, we must be able to deter and defend ourselves. We all know that when push comes to shove, the nuclear option is the really decisive one."

       Nigel Farage yesterday voiced his concerns, and Mr Habib, a former Brexit Party MEP, agreed, telling Express.co.uk: “This is as shocking as it is worrying but not a surprise.

       "The EU is going rogue. Not only does it want its own European army, it now wants nuclear weapons directly under its control.”

       Nigel Farage, the former Brexit Party leader, has also voiced his concerns (Image: GETTY)

       The EU had “yanked Russia’s tail repeatedly in Ukraine”, Mr Habib suggested.

       He explained: “It sought to influence Ukraine in the years running up to the annexation of Crimea and the current war.

       “When Russia attacked it was then extremely slow in instituting sanctions and providing military aid.”

       He continued: “The EU is the entity which tried to break US sanctions on Iran and is now condemning Israel rather than Hamas. It is in effect supporting the regime in Tehran.

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       “The EU is the entity which has sidled up to China and undermined the security of Europe.”

       Brussels had a long history of being “on the wrong side of foreign policy” and “more often than not part of the problem”, Mr Habib claimed.

       He added: “Our leaders are concerned about war with Russia, yet they are allowing the EU to develop its own independent military.

       “We should be extremely worried about these developments.

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       “Instead, British armed forces are themselves being sucked into the European Defence Union.

       “A nuclear armed European Union would be a threat to world peace.”

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       Brexit critic Guy Verhofstadt is another one pushing for an integration of EU defence forces.

       Earlier this week the former Belgian PM turned MEP tweeted: “When will EU leaders see the big picture: defence, border management, foreign affairs?

       “We need to plan ahead and finally start building the Europe we need to face a scary world!”

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