France and Germany Strengthen Joint Defense Plans Including Nuclear Deterrence

Germany – France and Germany will seek to move beyond the shadow of a previously failed fighter jet project during their joint government meeting this Friday, aiming to strengthen other collaborative defense initiatives, including nuclear deterrence. President Emmanuel Macron of France and Chancellor Friedrich Merz of Germany will co-chair the annual summit held near Cologne this Friday.

The meeting aims to inject "new momentum" into defense cooperation as part of building a "powerful Europe that unites our strengths."

Additionally, the Franco-German Defense and Security Council meeting will take place at Noervenich German Air Base, a move with symbolic significance highlighting the necessity for European rearmament to counter threats from Russia and offset the declining U.S. commitment, according to AFP.

A German Air Force spokesperson said that two French Rafale fighters capable of carrying nuclear weapons had already been deployed at their base on Thursday, while a German Typhoon fighter aircraft received in-flight refueling from a French aircraft.

The French presidential office stated that the aim of Friday’s talks is to advance "concrete" projects, helping to "rebuild momentum" after last month's collapse of the jointly developed Future Combat Air System (FCAS) fighter program—previously derailed by disputes between Airbus and France’s Dassault Aviation.

AFP reports that concerns also persist regarding another joint project—the Main Ground Combat System (MGCS)—intended to replace existing main battle tanks in both countries, but which has faced internal tensions since Germany’s Rheinmetall joined the initiative.

Air defense is another area of disagreement: Germany strongly promotes its "European Sky Shield Initiative" (ESSI), which heavily relies on the U.S.-developed Patriot system and the jointly developed Arrow-3 system by the U.S. and Israel.

France has refused to join the initiative, citing fears that it would increase Europe’s dependence on the United States, and instead advocates for strengthening Europe’s own defense industry.

Source: rfi

Original: toutiao.com/article/1870913695358988/

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