The Franco-German cooperation is not a move to replace NATO\u2019s nuclear umbrella, German Chancellor stressed.<\/p>\n
By Anadolu and The Associated Press<\/p>\n
Published On 17 Jul 202617 Jul 2026<\/p>\n
Germany\u2019s military will take part in a French nuclear drill for the first time this year, as part of a new shared \u201cdeterrence\u201d strategy, said Chancellor Friedrich Merz.<\/p>\n
The German leader highlighted the initiative during a media conference alongside French President Emmanuel Macron near Cologne in Germany on Friday, saying it may mark the start of a new \u201cdoctrine\u201d.<\/p>\n
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\u201cWe will have German conventional forces participate in a nuclear exercise conducted by the French armed forces before the end of this year,\u201d Merz said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe 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,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Germany and France\u2019s move to boost nuclear cooperation underscores growing European defence self-reliance amid uncertainty over US security commitments<\/a>.<\/p>\n Washington has revealed plans to cut some military assets<\/a> assigned to NATO operations in Europe and US President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticised<\/a> the transatlantic security alliance.<\/p>\n But Merz stressed that German-Franco cooperation would not replace NATO\u2019s nuclear umbrella, to which Germany remains committed.<\/p>\n \u201cThis complements our commitment to NATO\u2019s nuclear sharing and deterrence arrangements, which we continue to uphold,\u201d Merz said.<\/p>\n US nuclear bombs are stored in Germany as part of NATO\u2019s nuclear deterrent and German warplanes have been certified to potentially carry the weapons in an emergency.<\/p>\n Previous German leaders have refused offers of nuclear cooperation with France, Merz said, but \u201cthe world we live in today requires new answers\u201d.<\/p>\n \u2018Vanguard role\u2019<\/p>\n Macron said Germany would play a \u201cvanguard role\u201d in deterrence, which is critical for Europe\u2019s collective security.<\/p>\n The French leader said that cooperation would translate into \u201cexplaining some aspects of how we operate, sharing certain closely held practices, offering joint exercises, developing joint initiatives and partnerships and fostering greater \u2026 trust among our teams, experts and military personnel\u201d.<\/p>\n Enhanced nuclear deterrence won\u2019t involve financing from Germany, Macron added.<\/p>\n In a symbolic kick off to their cooperation, French Rafale and German Eurofighters participated in a joint in-flight refuelling exercise on Thursday. Rafale jets are designed to deliver nuclear weapons.<\/p>\n In March, Macron announced an increase in the French nuclear arsenal<\/a> and invited European partners to strengthen cooperation on nuclear deterrence.<\/p>\n