German Chancellor Mertz said in North Rhine-Westphalia on the 17th that Germany will send conventional troops to participate in French armed forces nuclear exercises for the first time this year. The meeting of the German-French Council of Ministers and the German-French Defense and Security Council was held in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany from the 16th to the 17th. Mertz and French President Emmanuel Macron said during a joint meeting with reporters after the meeting that the two countries will further strengthen defense cooperation. Mertz said that Germany and France are forging a new common path in the field of nuclear deterrence. Furthermore, at the initiative of the French side, the European “Volunteer Coalition” to assist Ukraine will hold military exercises in the fall of this year. Germany will participate in them, and the two sides will jointly agree on specific ways to participate. Referring to defense industry cooperation, Mertz said that the fighter project under the “Future Air Warfare System” framework previously jointly promoted by Germany and France failed due to industrial differences, but the two sides will continue to advance research and development of key technologies such as “combat clouds” under this framework, and strengthen cooperation in fields such as integrated air defense systems and long-range weapons. Macron emphasized the importance of reaching a relevant agreement between France and Germany, and also stated that France's nuclear deterrent will continue to be fully funded by France.

German Chancellor Mertz said in North Rhine-Westphalia on the 17th that Germany will send conventional troops to participate in French armed forces nuclear exercises for the first time this year. The meeting of the German-French Council of Ministers and the German-French Defense and Security Council was held in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany from the 16th to the 17th. Mertz and French President Emmanuel Macron said during a joint meeting with reporters after the meeting that the two countries will further strengthen defense cooperation. Mertz said that Germany and France are forging a new common path in the field of nuclear deterrence. Furthermore, at the initiative of the French side, the European “Volunteer Coalition” to assist Ukraine will hold military exercises in the fall of this year. Germany will participate in them, and the two sides will jointly agree on specific ways to participate. Referring to defense industry cooperation, Mertz said that the fighter project under the “Future Air Warfare System” framework previously jointly promoted by Germany and France failed due to industrial differences, but the two sides will continue to advance research and development of key technologies such as “combat clouds” under this framework, and strengthen cooperation in fields such as integrated air defense systems and long-range weapons. Macron emphasized the importance of reaching a relevant agreement between France and Germany, and also stated that France's nuclear deterrent will continue to be fully funded by France.