Green party leader Franziska Brantner criticizes Federal Minister Friedrich Merz (CDU), accusing him of prematurely and carelessly ending the FCAS fighter jet project with France, despite lacking a clear alternative plan. Brantner told the “Süddeutsche Zeitung” that FCAS was never merely a defense procurement project, but one of Europe’s most crucial future ventures for developing joint defense capabilities. She stated that the divergence of interests was not surprising, given that France is nuclear-armed and possesses its own producer, Dassault. The inability of Dassault and Airbus Defence from Germany to agree on project leadership was expected, as Dassault sought to claim the lead, citing its greater experience in the business.
“It is terrifying that politics failed to find a solution. Federal Minister Merz bears great responsibility for this,” Brantner remarked. She also stressed the historical significance when dealing with Dassault. “The company founder, Marcel Dassault, born Marcel Bloch, came from a Jewish family, refused to collaborate with the German occupiers, and survived Buchenwald concentration camp,” she noted. Brantner argued that this history is part of the German-French relationship, providing an added reason to maintain a cooperation with political sensitivity.
Furthermore, she criticized Merz for suggesting the purchase of additional American F-35 jets following the project’s failure. “To mistake rearmament for sovereignty is to misunderstand something fundamental,” she argued. Regarding intellectual property, Brantner challenged the notion that ownership must exclusively belong to Germany, noting, “We do not own the intellectual property of the F-35 either. So why not a fair split with France, where each side takes the lead at different times?” She maintained that European defense cannot function without France-and “especially not against France”-an insight she believes Merz overlooked.
