Germany to Join 1st French Nuclear Drill as Merz Signals New Deterrence Doctrine
Updated
Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jul 16
Germany to Join 1st French Nuclear Drill as Merz Signals New Deterrence Doctrine
3 articles · Updated · Al Jazeera English · Jul 16
Summary
German conventional forces will join a French nuclear exercise before year-end, the first such participation and a step Merz said could begin a new shared deterrence doctrine.
Merz framed the move as a response to doubts over US security commitments, while stressing it complements rather than replaces NATO nuclear sharing, under which US bombs are stored in Germany.
Macron said Germany would take a “vanguard role” in European deterrence through joint exercises, operational exchanges and partnerships, adding the expanded cooperation will not require German financing.
Thursday’s joint refuelling drill between French Rafales and German Eurofighters symbolically launched the effort, building on Macron’s March push to expand France’s arsenal and deepen nuclear cooperation with European partners.