Germany to join French nuclear exercise in European defence push

Germany is set to join a French-led nuclear drill by the conclusion of 2024, signaling a significant evolution in European defense collaboration. Chancellor Friedrich Merz revealed this decision following discussions with French President Emmanuel Macron at the Norvenich airbase close to Cologne. While France remains the EU's only nuclear power, Germany aspires to establish the continent's most formidable conventional military by 2039. This exercise will incorporate German conventional forces, aligning with NATO's nuclear sharing framework, which includes US nuclear arms stationed in Germany. Although prior German administrations had dismissed such partnerships, Merz emphasized that "the world we live in today requires new answers," highlighting a shift towards greater European defense autonomy amid uncertainties regarding US security assurances.