German conventional forces will participate in a French nuclear exercise before the end of this year, Chancellor Friedrich Merz and President Emmanuel Macron announced on Friday after a joint ministerial council in Brühl, western Germany. The exercise, known as “Poker,” is a long-standing French airborne operation simulating a low-altitude, high-speed nuclear raid against an opposing force. The deployment of a French Rafale fighter — capable of carrying atomic weapons — to Nörvenich air base, where the two leaders chaired a defence and security council, was described in a joint statement as “the first operational phase” of the cooperation.

Speaking at a press conference, Merz said a newly created “strategic steering group” would examine how to increase deterrence in the future, adding that the German contribution would be with conventional assets and that any cooperation “complements, without replacing, the nuclear deterrence provided by NATO.” Macron outlined the concept of “advanced deterrence,” under which partner states can take part in French nuclear exercises and contribute conventional capabilities — early warning, deep strikes, and missile defence — while the final decision on nuclear use remains exclusively with the French president. According to the Élysée, eight European countries have expressed interest in the framework, including the United Kingdom, Poland, and the Netherlands.

The initiative reflects a broader push by European capitals to strengthen defence autonomy, driven by what officials in Berlin and Paris describe as growing doubts over the long-term reliability of US security guarantees and the persistent threat from Russia. The same summit saw both leaders criticise China for what they called excessive state support for its industry and a trade surplus with Europe of roughly €1 billion per day. The nuclear announcement also served to relaunch the Franco-German defence partnership after the collapse in June of the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) fighter-jet programme, a setback both leaders acknowledged. They confirmed that work on a joint combat cloud and drone systems would continue, and that a common European combat standard would be pursued to ensure interoperability among different aircraft types.

Viewed from Washington, the Franco-German nuclear rapprochement is likely to be read as another signal of European intent to build parallel defence structures, though both Merz and Macron stressed the arrangement is not a substitute for the transatlantic alliance. Analysts in European capitals note that the timing is also shaped by domestic calendars: Macron’s term ends next year, and opinion polls show the far right leading ahead of the presidential election, creating pressure to lock in progress on defence integration. The German participation in the autumn exercise is a first concrete step, with further doctrinal work expected through the steering group in the coming months.