Germany to join French nuclear drill as Europe strengthens deterrence

New Delhi ( The Indian View team) : Germany and France recently said that the German military will take part in a French nuclear exercise before the end of this year, in a move aimed at deepening European nuclear cooperation.

The announcement highlights a wider push in Europe towards greater defence self-reliance amid concerns about the future of US security commitments to the continent.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron made the announcement after talks at Norvenich air base near Cologne in western Germany.

Merz said Germany would join the exercise with conventional forces, while both leaders presented the step as part of closer cooperation on deterrence and European security.

“We will have German conventional forces participate in a nuclear exercise conducted by the French armed forces before the end of this year,” Merz said. He added that cooperation with France “complements” the NATO nuclear sharing agreement, to which Germany remains committed. US nuclear bombs are stationed in Germany as part of NATO’s nuclear deterrent, and German fighter jets have been certified to potentially carry the weapons in an emergency.

Merz said previous German leaders had refused offers of nuclear cooperation with France, but added that “the world we live in today requires new answers”. He said Germany’s participation in the exercise would be with conventional means for now. “We are proceeding step by step, it may be that this will result in a new doctrine, but it is far too early to say that today,” he said.

Macron said advanced deterrence was important for European collective security “because it creates strategic doubt among our adversaries”. He said Germany would have a “vanguard role” in deterrence efforts and that “diluting the presence of the nuclear deterrent” is what confuses enemies.

Macron said the cooperation 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.”