Macron: Germany to play 'vanguard role' in European nuclear deterrence

VIENNA — Nuclear cooperation between France and Germany has moved from dialogue to concrete action, with French nuclear-capable bombers visiting a German airfield this month and joint exercises now scheduled.

Background: The 'Nuclear Steering Group'

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 countries.

Germany was among the first nations to join the scheme four months ago. To date, nine countries 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 reports 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.
• For the first time, a French nuclear-capable Rafale jet was 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.

Context: Strained Relations and a Forward-Looking Stance

The 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 caused strain and ill will between French and German defense contractors.

Despite this, the leaders presented a forward-looking and cooperative attitude.

"We are charting a new, shared course in deterrence," Merz said. He emphasized that the initiative should not be seen as competition to NATO nuclear sharing, but rather as a supplement to it.

"This complements our commitment to NATO's nuclear sharing and deterrence arrangements, which we continue to uphold," Merz added.

NATO Nuclear Sharing vs. French Forward Deterrence

Under NATO's current U.S.-led nuclear sharing arrangement:

• Germany hosts American nuclear bombs on its soil.
• Germany 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.

Under the new French doctrine, sovereignty over the weapons and all decision-making related to their use will remain in Paris. However, conventional tasks may be undertaken by Germany and other allies. The arrangement may also see French fighter jets operating from other European countries' air bases.

Macron: Germany as 'Vanguard' in European Deterrence

Macron stated that he sees Germany playing a "vanguard role" in European deterrence.

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 long-standing Cold War-era arms control arrangements and nuclear restraint.

Next Steps

The nuclear steering group will continue to refine how Germany fits into the framework of French nuclear deterrence, including:

• Determining avenues for collaboration
• Identifying which forces could be used

From the French side, inviting Germany into the fold involves "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," Macron said at Nörvenich.

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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