Germany to join French nuclear drill for first time as Merz and Macron pledge deeper defence and tech cooperation

Nuclear deterrence cooperation

Germany will take part in a French nuclear exercise before the end of 2026, a first that Chancellor Friedrich Merz described as a step toward a possible new doctrine. The decision was announced after a Franco-German Defence and Security Council session at Nörvenich Air Base near Cologne. Merz said the move complements NATO's nuclear sharing arrangements, not replaces them. French President Emmanuel Macron stressed that France alone will fund its nuclear deterrent. Eight other European countries (the UK, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Sweden, Denmark and Norway) have already agreed to strengthen nuclear cooperation with France.

We are proceeding step by step, it may be that this will result in a new doctrine, but it is far too early to say that today.

Macron said Germany would play a "vanguard role" in deterrence, with cooperation including joint exercises, sharing of practices and greater trust among military teams. A symbolic joint in-flight refuelling exercise involving French Rafale and German Eurofighter jets took place on Thursday.

Defence industrial projects

The two governments agreed to launch a research programme for the Main Ground Combat System (MGCS), the Franco-German project to replace Leopard 2 and Leclerc tanks with a network of crewed and uncrewed vehicles. The initial goal is a proof-of-concept covering autonomous driving, sensors and battlefield networking. On the troubled Future Combat Air System (FCAS), the joint declaration did not mention the next-generation fighter jet, but the leaders said they would create a "European collaborative combat standard" to allow fighter jets, drones and other aircraft from different countries to communicate and fight together. France and Germany will also work with Britain to examine long-range missile cooperation, with technology that could give weapons a range of 2,500 kilometres, leveraging capabilities at ArianeGroup. The two governments also reiterated support for a stock-market listing of tank-maker KNDS, provided market conditions are right and both agree.

Technology and space

A joint high-level working group for the space sector was established, and the two countries pledged closer cooperation on reconnaissance satellites and greater use of European rockets, including Ariane 6, for military launches. The declaration also backed the European satellite system Iris², aiming to reduce dependence on other providers with around 300 satellites. On the digital front, France and Germany will examine the development of a "European sovereign digital backbone," citing France's Arcadia military AI platform as an alternative to Palantir's Maven software used by NATO. Cooperation in artificial intelligence, quantum technology and nuclear fusion was also agreed, with the joint document recognising the crucial importance of fusion energy.

Economic stance on China

Both leaders took aim at China's trade practices. Merz and Macron said China provides at least eight times the level of state support to its industry seen in other OECD countries. Macron noted that Europe runs a trade deficit with China of 1 billion euros ($1.14 billion) a day. "We are by no means anti-Chinese, either in our diplomacy or in our economy, but we take a clear-eyed view," Macron said.

We are by no means anti-Chinese, either in our diplomacy or in our economy, but we take a clear-eyed view.

Political context

The meeting at Augustusburg Palace in Brühl, where Charles de Gaulle proposed the friendship treaty to Konrad Adenauer in 1962, was likely the last at this level with Macron before France's 2027 presidential election. Merz said Germany remains open to deeper cooperation regardless of the election outcome. The two leaders also agreed to closer military cooperation with Italy. Merz thanked Macron for the trust and enthusiasm that marked the council, and both reaffirmed their commitment to supporting Ukraine until a peace that preserves its sovereignty and European security is achieved. The day began with the two leaders descending from a Super Puma helicopter, a symbol of Franco-German cooperation, before Rafale and Eurofighter jets performed a flyover.