Germany to join French military nuclear exercise, Merz says

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Germany will take part in a French nuclear exercise later this year, after representatives from the German and French governments met near Cologne.

Speaking at a press conference alongside French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday, Merz said a strategic steering group created by the two countries would consider how to increase deterrence in the future. He said that, alongside work on a shared doctrine, German conventional forces would take part this year in a nuclear exercise of the French military.

Merz said the step was complementary to Germany's nuclear participation and deterrence within NATO, which he said Germany still supports.

On Ukraine, Merz said Germany would also take part in an autumn manoeuvre initiated by France. He said the two countries would clarify the exact form of Germany's participation.

The manoeuvre is part of the Coalition of the Willing of Ukraine's allies, whose latest meeting took place in Paris earlier this week with Macron and Merz present. At that meeting, Macron said a Multinational Force for Ukraine, to be deployed once fighting ends, would hold exercises in coming months in countries neighbouring Ukraine to validate deployment plans and show readiness.