Media: Germany to take part in Paris-led nuclear exercises in historic first

Germany and France are taking their first practical steps toward deeper cooperation on nuclear deterrence, according to DPA, as cited by TASS.

Sources within the German government said that a joint refuelling operation involving a French Rafale fighter capable of carrying nuclear weapons and a German Air Force Eurofighter is scheduled to take place on July 16 at Nörvenich Air Base in Germany.

The event will be held shortly before a meeting between German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron at Bensberg Castle near Cologne. According to DPA, the activity at Nörvenich marks the beginning of the practical implementation of the nuclear partnership agreement reached by Merz and Macron in early March.

Further deepening of defence cooperation is expected to be a key topic at a meeting of the Franco-German Security and Defence Council, which will convene at the air base on Friday, July 17. The two sides are expected to decide that German military personnel will participate in French nuclear exercises for the first time later this autumn.

Merz and Macron are scheduled to meet within the framework of the Franco-German Council of Ministers, which will take place on July 16–17 in Brühl, western Germany.

In addition to nuclear deterrence, the leaders are expected to discuss Europe’s competitiveness, digital technologies, efforts to combat disinformation, and cross-border cooperation. They also aim to narrow differences over the future budget of the European Union.

By Jeyhun Aghazada