German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and France’s Emmanuel Macron confirmed their first joint nuclear drills – hitting out at Russia, China and the US – during talks in Bruhl on Friday.
“We are implementing what we already agreed on in a joint declaration at the beginning of March,” Merz said, following their joint air force exercise – featuring two French Rafale fighter jets that can be equipped with nuclear weapons, and two Bundeswehr Eurofighters.
“Our work between Germany and France is indispensable in a time in which Russia threatens our security, the People’s Republic of China challenges our economy, and the transatlantic partnership has lost its self-evidence,” the chancellor told reporters.
Merz and Macron were outlining defence plans one month after the collapse of the landmark FCAS joint fighter jet project.
Merz continued: “a month ago we finally concluded that the joint FCAS aircraft we had planned failed due to industrial differences. Faced with this sobering reality we both did not turn a blind eye, and we drew the necessary conclusions… Today we have a endorsed a new work plan for cooperation in the defence industry, which our ministers have developed at our request.
Macron added: “I believe that we have given a new impetus through something and initiatives that we have undertaken together and that were not necessarily expected a year ago… which is also to give Germany this role of vanguard in advanced deterrence, as a singular and unique partner. And I believe that the best symbol, this morning at Norvenich, on the base, the Rafales, the Eurofighters together and our meeting that was held in this place.”
German troops are also set to take part in French nuclear drills in the Autumn. The leaders presided over a session of the German-French Defence and Security Council at the Nörvenich Air Base near Cologne.
Source: Viory
