Germany to join French nuclear exercise in autumn as Paris and Berlin deepen defense ties

France and Germany on Friday committed to deeper defense cooperation, including on nuclear deterrence, as they sought to move past the collapse of a flagship joint jet fighter project.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron met in Brühl and Nörvenich near Cologne, where they announced that Germany would participate in a French military nuclear exercise later this year.
"Germany will take part in a maneuver in the autumn held on the initiative of France as part of the coalition of the willing group of Ukraine's allies," Merz said.
The meeting took place at the military airbase in Nörvenich, where French Rafale and German Eurofighter jets were displayed. The Rafale jets are capable of carrying nuclear weapons, and a small exercise involving these jets and a French tanker aircraft was held on Thursday to mark the beginning of practical nuclear cooperation.
Macron emphasized that the cooperation aims to enhance the security of the European continent and create more uncertainty among potential adversaries. "The goal of the cooperation with Germany and other countries is to improve the security of the European continent and create more uncertainty among our adversaries," Macron said.
The leaders also discussed the future of European defense and the need for greater military autonomy. This comes after the collapse of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) project, which was intended to develop a joint jet fighter.
In addition to defense cooperation, Macron and Merz also agreed to work together on trade measures against China. They emphasized the importance of aligning their policies to address economic challenges posed by China.
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