Chancellor Friedrich Merz welcomed President Emmanuel Macron to the Noervenich air base near Cologne on Friday for the 26th Franco-German ministerial council. The meetings included a joint defense council and the traditional French-German Council of Ministers. These talks took place in a symbolic setting where President Charles de Gaulle and Chancellor Konrad Adenauer previously met and agreed on establishing friendly Franco-German ties.
The meetings sought to demonstrate that the EU's two largest defense powers can still work together despite differences over major armament programs. A primary goal was to bounce back with new joint projects involving the defense industry of both countries following the failure of a common fighter jet project.
Chancellor Merz announced that Germany will take part in a French nuclear exercise later this year. Additionally, the two countries will continue to develop the cloud solution from the FCAS joint fighter jet project that collapsed earlier this year.
The joint ministerial retreat also focused on deepening cooperation regarding nuclear deterrence, missile defense, long-range strike capabilities, and space.