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Conclusion of the Franco-German Defence and Security Council.

by ELYSSE

As we face war and escalating hybrid threats on our continent, multiple crises in our neighbourhood and a challenging geopolitical constellation shaped by great power dynamics, Germany and France are committed to strengthen the security of Europe and of the Euroatlantic area as well as to contribute to a rules-based international order.

Based on the ambitions of the Treaty of Aachen, we agree to intensify our bilateral security and defence cooperation in the following six areas:

Strategic cooperation

Building on the joint declaration of President Macron and Chancellor Merz of 2nd March 2026 and pursuant to the establishment of the German-French “Nuclear Steering Group” under the joint chairmanship of the French President and the German Chancellor, with the participation of Ministries of Foreign Affairs and Ministries of Defence, Germany and France will further develop their strategic cooperation and their common strategic culture. Our confidential consultations will focus on the articulation of conventional, Deep Precision Strike and missile defence capabilities with nuclear deterrence, in order to increase our ability to manage escalation beneath the nuclear threshold and to develop the necessary conventional capabilities.

This unprecedented bilateral cooperation will contribute to strengthening deterrence in Europe and enhancing Europe’s security as a whole in full compliance with our international legal obligations. It will add to, not substitute for, NATO’s nuclear deterrence and NATO’s nuclear sharing arrangements, to which Germany contributes.

Today, the deployment of Rafale aircraft from the French Strategic Air Forces to the German 31 Tactical Air Wing “Boelcke” at Nörvenich marks the first operational step in Franco-German strategic cooperation It will be followed by further steps this year, including German conventional participation in a French nuclear exercise.

A stronger Europe in a stronger NATO

Facing the long-term threat posed by Russia to Euro-Atlantic security and commending the results of the NATO Summit in Ankara, France and Germany are determined to strengthen the European pillar of the Alliance and to assume greater responsibility for the Alliance’s defence, working with other Allies. 

We support the development of a robust European defence technological and industrial base, striving for standardization, simplification and scale in equipping our armed forces. We will build on the experience of the European Defence Fund and the European Defence Industry Programme (EDIP) with a view to the next Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF). We will work together to make progress in the priority capability areas already identified by the European Council, to harness emerging technologies, to unlock private capital and investment and to reduce our strategic dependencies.

France and Germany are intensifying military cooperation especially through joint exercises. We have agreed that the Franco-German Brigade takes part in NATO exercises and activities with the Multinational Korps North East in Szczecin. We welcome progress regarding the Franco-German Air Transport Squadron in Evreux which will reach joint full operational capability by the end of 2026.

Defence Cooperation

Germany and France are determined to significantly contribute to the strengthening of European Defence Readiness and to contribute to a stronger European pillar within NATO.  France and Germany have thus agreed to further strengthen their industrial and capability cooperation across key strategic domains:

1.France and Germany will define a European collaborative combat standard to ensure interoperability among all European air systems, including fighters, collaborative combat aircraft and remote carriers, and to foster the collaborative evolution of a system of systems in the future. To this end, we will develop a secure framework based on an open and modular architecture, shared interfaces and the exploration of common technological solutions providing sovereign, interoperable and scalable information sharing.

2. Regarding KNDS, France and Germany reaffirm their full commitment to the agreements reached in June. France and Germany as future co-shareholders with equal rights share a strong interest in a timely IPO depending on market conditions and as soon as they jointly decide to move forward. Thereby, France and Germany create a strong and solid foundation for the success and long-term development of KNDS as a leading European and global defence company serving the French and German armed forces. As future co-shareholders they will continue to jointly promote adequate harmonisation of operations and constant innovation, ensuring that KNDS remains able to develop customer-oriented programmes, deliver effective solutions to the needs of both armed forces and export those solutions to partner countries.

3. Concerning MGCS, France and Germany will investigate an approach for collaborative combat in a research program and bring it to a proof-of-concept state. It should be adaptable for both manned and unmanned tracked platforms, in order to cover possible different collaborative combat mission system, autonomous driving and sensor technology contributing to collaborative combat services. They will investigate a system of systems approach as an integral part of future multi domain operations.

4. Together with their British partners, France and Germany, will assess cooperation opportunities across all DPS work strands, with a particular emphasis on the ballistic boost of very long-range effectors (2500km). They recognize and will examine existing capabilities of the Franco German company Ariane Group.

5. On IAMD, France and Germany will explore cooperation on sovereign European Ballistic Missile Defense capabilities, as part, with DPS and Early Warning, of the capabilities needed to manage escalation below the nuclear threshold.

6. In Space, France and Germany will actively explore interoperability opportunities i.a. between IRIS2 promoted by France and Germany’s future national constellation to enable federated space systems while protecting national sovereignty and services. They will continue and intensify their cooperation on next-generation space-based reconnaissance systems. They will equally intensify efforts to make use of Ariane 6 and other European launchers for the deployment of military satellites. They further agree to scrutinize opportunities for cooperation on active defence capabilities.

7. France and Germany will continue the implementation of the JEWEL initiative, for all pillars (Space-based, surface-based as well as Command and Control), while extending the initiative to further partners in a deliberate approach.

8. To foster data sovereignty, France and Germany will examine the development of a European sovereign digital backbone, taking into consideration data-centric security, artificial intelligence and cloud solutions from both countries, e.g. the French ARCADIA solution as well as comparable German solutions.

To amplify the governance of Franco-German armament cooperation, a regular dialogue between the German State Secretary for Armament and Innovation and the French Délégué Général pour l'Armement will be established and hosted alternately by France and Germany. These meetings will address all relevant issues relating to bilateral armament cooperation and defence innovation within the framework of the Franco-German Armament and Innovation Committee (FGAIC).

Ukraine/Russia

Condemning Russia’s ongoing illegal war of aggression against Ukraine, France and Germany reiterate their continued and unwavering support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. We remain determined to bring about a just and lasting peace for Ukraine, in accordance with the principles of international law, including the United Nations Charter, that will preserve Ukraine’s and our security interests.

France and Germany welcome the adoption and swift operationalisation of the 90bn€ Ukraine Support Loan as well as the NATO pledge for long-term security assistance to Ukraine endorsed at the Ankara Summit.

France and Germany stand ready to contribute to robust and credible security guarantees for Ukraine, including through the Coalition of the Willing and to strengthen Ukraine’s ability to deter and defend itself effectively.

We will continue to support Ukraine as long as it takes, with the provision of military support, through the financing and donations of priority equipment, industry procurement, R&D cooperation, co-productions, as well as funding for Ukrainian production, with a particular focus on DPS capabilities and air defence including anti-ballistic missile defence.

Iran

France and Germany welcome the memorandum of understanding between the US and Iran facilitated by Pakistan and Qatar. Navigational rights and freedoms in the Strait of Hormuz must be restored in accordance with international law, without fees or tolls. We urge Iran to refrain from endangering the further negotiations through military escalations or activities.

Supporting the Multinational Military Mission in the Strait of Hormuz led by France and the United Kingdom, France and Germany stand ready with pre-deployed assets to participate as soon as conditions allow. This mission could play an important role in reassuring the shipping industry and re-opening the Strait including through verification of demining.

France and Germany fully support negotiations aimed at addressing Iran’s nuclear program. We reaffirm that the final agreement must verifiably ensure that Iran can never develop or acquire a nuclear weapon. We call on Iran to urgently return to compliance with its legally binding safeguards obligations, in particular by allowing IAEA inspectors access to all its nuclear facilities.  

Lebanon

France and Germany remain engaged in strengthening the Lebanese state, through supporting the monopoly of force of the Lebanese Armed Forces, the disarmament of the Hezbollah and the implementation of urgent economic and financial reforms. We call on parties to the conflict to respect Lebanon’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

France and Germany support the ongoing work on post-UNIFIL options, including continued engagement in the framework of the UN and the EU. They welcome the 26th June Agreement signed in Washington between Lebanon and Israel and stand ready to support its implementation and coordinate closely on the next steps to be determined in support of Lebanon full sovereignty.