France and Germany have decided to intensify their cooperation on deterrence. To achieve this, both countries will establish a senior nuclear‑control group that will serve as a bilateral framework for defence‑policy exchange and the coordination of strategic measures. A joint statement by French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, released on Monday, outlines this plan.
The partnership will involve consultations on “the appropriate mix of conventional capabilities, missile defence and French nuclear forces”. Both nations plan to take concrete steps this year, including Germany’s participation in French nuclear exercises and joint visits to strategic sites. They also aim to enhance their ability to manage escalation below the nuclear threshold.
The Franco‑German alliance is grounded in the belief that the nuclear dimension of deterrence remains a cornerstone of European security. It complements NATO’s nuclear deterrence and the nuclear sharing arrangements to which Germany continues to contribute. France and Germany reaffirm their commitment to uphold the Treaty on the Non‑Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
