France and Germany seek closer defence cooperation after fighter jet project collapse

France and Germany sought to show unity on defence after the collapse of a joint fighter jet project, with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz saying German troops would join a French military nuclear exercise this year.

Merz spoke alongside French President Emmanuel Macron after a joint meeting of the two governments. He said Germany's participation in the French nuclear exercise would complement Germany's nuclear participation and deterrence within NATO, which Berlin still supports.

Macron said earlier this year that Germany was one of eight countries that had agreed to take part in a French-led nuclear deterrence project. He has also said France, one of Western Europe's two nuclear powers along with the United Kingdom, would keep tight control over nuclear decision-making.

Merz also said Germany would take part in an autumn manoeuvre initiated by France as part of the Coalition of the Willing group of Ukraine's allies. He said the two countries would still clarify the exact form of Germany's participation. Macron said at a meeting of the group on Monday that a Multinational Force for Ukraine, intended to be deployed once fighting ends, would hold exercises in coming months in countries neighbouring Ukraine to test deployment plans and show readiness.

The meeting came after the collapse last month of the Future Combat Air System fighter jet project, which had been a flagship joint effort but was affected by disputes between Airbus and France's Dassault. Another joint project, the Main Ground Combat System, which aims to replace tanks used by France and Germany, has also faced tensions since Germany's Rheinmetall entered the project. A joint statement said France and Germany wanted to investigate an approach for that project to bring it to a proof-of-concept stage.

The two allies also pledged cooperation on long-range missile capacity, air defence, satellite internet and early warning capabilities.

Merz welcomed Macron at Noervenich air base near Cologne, where the two leaders arrived in a Super Puma helicopter. They then led a joint defence and security council next to a French Rafale jet and a Eurofighter used by Germany's air force. The full cabinets of both governments later met at a castle near Cologne, where French president Charles de Gaulle and German chancellor Konrad Adenauer agreed in 1962 on the idea of a friendship treaty between the two countries.

The talks also took place as European countries seek to expand defence capabilities in response to what the source described as the Russian threat and reduced US commitment under President Donald Trump. Macron faces a presidential election next spring in which far-right leader Marine Le Pen is described by the source as a frontrunner to succeed him.

Asked about the possibility of a Le Pen victory in 2027, Merz said Germany would extend a hand to whoever was elected. He said Berlin would continue working to keep cooperation with France close, deep and trusting, regardless of voters' decisions in either country.

The far-right Alternative for Germany has also held a steady lead in German polls, although other parties have maintained a firewall against cooperation with it. Macron urged caution over polls suggesting Le Pen could win, saying people should trust French voters and not always predict the worst for them.