Chancellor Merz emphasized that the Franco-German cooperation does not intend to supplant NATO’s nuclear umbrella.
By Anadolu and The Associated Press
Published On 17 Jul 2026
Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced that Germany’s military will participate in a French nuclear exercise for the first time this year, as part of a newly established joint deterrence strategy.
Speaking at a media conference alongside French President Emmanuel Macron near Cologne on Friday, Merz highlighted the initiative, noting it could signal the beginning of a new defence doctrine.
“We will have German conventional forces take part in a nuclear exercise led by the French armed forces before the year’s end,” Merz stated.
“We are taking a stepwise approach, and while this could evolve into a new doctrine, it remains premature to confirm as much today,” he added.
The enhanced Franco-German nuclear cooperation underscores Europe’s growing pursuit of defence self-reliance amid ongoing uncertainty regarding US security commitments.
The United States has announced plans to reduce certain military assets allocated to NATO operations in Europe, while US President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticised the transatlantic security alliance.
Merz stressed that the Franco-German cooperation would not replace NATO’s nuclear umbrella, to which Germany remains committed.
“This initiative complements our ongoing commitment to NATO’s nuclear sharing and deterrence arrangements, which we remain steadfast in upholding,” Merz said.
US nuclear weapons are stationed in Germany under NATO’s nuclear deterrent framework, and German aircraft have been certified to employ these weapons in emergency scenarios.
Merz noted that previous German administrations had declined similar offers of nuclear cooperation with France, but stressed that contemporary global dynamics necessitate innovative approaches.
‘Vanguard role’
Macron stated that Germany would assume a “vanguard role” in deterrence efforts, which he described as vital to Europe’s collective security.
He explained that the cooperation would involve sharing operational details, exchanging closely held procedures, conducting joint drills, developing collaborative initiatives and partnerships, and building trust among military teams, experts, and personnel.
Macron added that enhanced nuclear deterrence efforts would not require financial contributions from Germany.
French Rafale and German Eurofighter jets conducted a joint in-flight refuelling exercise on Thursday as a symbolic initial step in their cooperation. Rafale aircraft are configured to deliver nuclear weapons.
In March, Macron announced an expansion of France’s nuclear arsenal and extended an invitation to European allies to enhance collaboration on nuclear deterrence initiatives.
France has remained the sole nuclear-armed state within the 27-member European Union following the United Kingdom’s departure from the bloc in 2020.
Several nations, including the United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Sweden, Denmark, and Norway, have indicated interest in participating in France’s nuclear deterrence initiative.
Germany’s involvement, given its ongoing major rearmament initiative aimed at establishing Europe’s most formidable conventional military by 2039, significantly strengthens the programme.