Germany and France issue a joint statement to strengthen cooperation in the nuclear field

Germany and France issued a joint statement on March 2nd, local time, stating that the two countries will strengthen cooperation in the nuclear field.

The statement said that Germany and France, in the spirit of the close partnership outlined in Article 4 of the Aachen Treaty, have decided to enhance cooperation in nuclear deterrence to address the evolving threat landscape.

Currently, Germany and France have established a high-level nuclear guidance group, which will serve as a bilateral framework to conduct theoretical dialogues and coordinate strategic cooperation, including consultations on the appropriate combination of conventional capabilities, missile defense capabilities, and France’s nuclear capabilities.

Germany and France agree to take initial concrete measures starting this year, including Germany’s conventional forces participating in French nuclear exercises, joint visits to strategic sites, and co-developing conventional capabilities with European partners. The two countries will also enhance their ability to manage escalation below the nuclear threshold, particularly in early warning, air defense, and deep precision strike domains.

The statement noted that the cooperation between Germany and France is based on a shared understanding that nuclear deterrence remains the cornerstone of European security. The cooperation will complement, not replace, NATO’s nuclear deterrence and nuclear sharing arrangements. Germany has contributed to these arrangements and will continue to do so. France and Germany will continue to fulfill their obligations under international law, including the Non-Proliferation Treaty.