Germany and France sign unprecedented defense pact on nuclear deterrence; Germany to join French nuclear exercise for first time

Published Jul 17, 03:23 PM UTC

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron signed an agreement on Friday in Brühl, Germany, to deepen strategic cooperation on nuclear deterrence, aiming to strengthen Europe's defense posture. The partnership focuses on integrating conventional capabilities, deep precision strike, and missile defense with nuclear deterrence to manage escalation below the nuclear threshold. Germany will participate in a French nuclear exercise (Poker) for the first time in a conventional capacity, with German officials observing from a French tanker aircraft. No financial contribution from Germany is foreseen. The agreement follows the collapse of their joint €100 billion fighter jet project. A steering group will examine how France's offer to extend its nuclear deterrence over Europe could work in practice, potentially leading to a common doctrine. Both countries also agreed to coordinate on satellite frequencies and the EU's IRIS2 secure communications constellation, with a space summit planned for September.