Germany To Send Regular Troops To France's Nuclear Drill For First Time

According to Lianhe Zaobao citing Xinhua, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said in North Rhine-Westphalia on Friday, July 17, that Germany will send regular troops to participate in a French armed forces nuclear exercise for the first time this year. Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron made the remarks after meetings of the Franco-German Council of Ministers and the Franco-German Defense and Security Council, which were held in North Rhine-Westphalia from Thursday, July 16, to Friday. Merz said Germany and France are opening a new joint path in nuclear deterrence, and that Germany will also take part in a military exercise planned for this autumn by Europe’s so-called “coalition of the willing” to support Ukraine. On defense industry cooperation, Merz said a fighter jet project under the Future Combat Air System framework had failed because of industrial differences, but the two sides will continue work on key technologies such as “combat cloud” systems and deepen cooperation on integrated air defense and long-range weapons. Macron stressed the importance of the Franco-German consensus and said France’s nuclear deterrent will continue to be fully funded by France.