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France and Germany deepen nuclear deterrence cooperation; French nuclear-capable Rafale deployed to German base for first time
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France and Germany have moved from words to action in nuclear deterrence cooperation. A French nuclear-capable Rafale jet was temporarily hosted at Germany's Nörvenich air base near Cologne, marking the first such deployment. The leaders announced that Germany will participate in France's upcoming 'Poker' nuclear exercise in September with conventional forces. This follows the formation of a 'nuclear steering group' in March as part of France's new 'forward deterrence' doctrine, which extends its nuclear umbrella to European allies. Nine countries from Norway to Greece have joined the initiative. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized the cooperation complements, not competes with, NATO's U.S.-led nuclear sharing arrangements. France remains the only EU country with its own nuclear arsenal post-Brexit. The cooperation comes despite recent strains in Franco-German defense relations following the collapse of the joint FCAS project.
Source report
VIENNA — Nuclear cooperation between France and Germany has progressed from policy discussions to concrete military actions, including the deployment of French nuclear-capable bombers to a German airfield and scheduled joint exercises.
Background: The 'Forward Deterrence' Strategy
In March, leaders in Paris and Berlin established a "nuclear steering group" to coordinate closer integration on atomic strategic matters. This initiative is part of a major French doctrinal shift known as "forward deterrence," under which France pledges to extend its nuclear umbrella to other European nations.
Germany was among the first countries to join the scheme four months ago. To date, nine nations spanning from Norway to Greece have signed on.
Key Developments Announced July 17
Speaking alongside French President Emmanuel Macron on July 17, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz officially confirmed that Germany would participate in upcoming French nuclear exercises with its own conventional forces.
- The exercise, identified by Politico as the French "Poker" maneuver, is scheduled for September.
- Macron announced that, for the first time, a French nuclear-capable Rafale jet had been temporarily hosted at a German air base — specifically at Nörvenich near Cologne, where the Franco-German Defence and Security Council met on July 17.
- A day earlier, French Rafales were refueled midair alongside German Eurofighters in a symbolic launch of the two countries' nuclear strategic cooperation.
Leadership Statements
"We are charting a new, shared course in deterrence," Merz said, while emphasizing that the initiative is not intended as competition to NATO nuclear sharing but rather as a supplement.
"This complements our commitment to NATO's nuclear sharing and deterrence arrangements, which we continue to uphold," Merz added.
Macron described Germany as playing a "vanguard role" in European deterrence.
Context: NATO Nuclear Sharing
Under NATO's current U.S.-led nuclear sharing arrangement, Germany hosts American nuclear bombs on its soil and operates dual-capable aircraft that can deliver the weapons if authorized by the U.S. president. Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy, and Turkey similarly host U.S. nuclear bombs.
Operational Details
Under the new French doctrine:
- Sovereignty over nuclear weapons and all decision-making related to their use remains in Paris.
- Conventional tasks may be undertaken by Germany and other allies under the forward deterrence scheme.
- French fighter jets may operate from air bases in other European countries.
Broader Implications
France is the only European Union country with its own nuclear arsenal following the United Kingdom's departure from the bloc in 2020. Alongside announcing the forward deterrence strategy in March, Macron also announced plans to increase France's nuclear stockpile, contributing to a broader trend of unraveling Cold War-era arms control arrangements.
Next Steps
The nuclear steering group will continue to refine how Germany integrates into French nuclear deterrence, including identifying avenues for collaboration and determining which forces could be used.
From the French side, Macron stated that inviting Germany into the fold would involve "explaining some aspects of how we operate, sharing certain closely held practices, offering joint exercises, developing joint initiatives and partnerships and fostering greater … trust among our teams, experts and military personnel."
Meeting Context
The July 17 meeting at Nörvenich was the first major high-level defense meeting since the collapse of the joint Future Combat Air System (FCAS) project, which had strained relations between French and German defense contractors. Despite this, the leaders presented a forward-looking and cooperative stance.
About the Author
Linus Höller is Defense News' Europe correspondent and OSINT investigator. He reports on arms deals, sanctions, and geopolitics shaping Europe and the world. He holds master's degrees in WMD nonproliferation, terrorism studies, and international relations, and works in English, German, Russian, and Spanish.
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