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2026-07-18 10:32:13
[Merz: Germany to Send Conventional Troops to French Nuclear Exercise for the First Time] German Chancellor Merz said on the 17th in North Rhine-Westphalia that Germany will send conventional troops to participate in French armed forces' nuclear exercise for the first time this year. The Franco-German Council of Ministers and the Franco-German Council of Defense and Security held meetings in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, from the 16th to the 17th. Merz and French President Macron, in a joint press conference after the meeting, stated that the two countries will further strengthen defense cooperation. Merz stated that Germany and France are forging a new common path in the field of nuclear deterrence. Furthermore, at the initiative of France, the European Volunteer Union for Ukraine will hold military exercises this autumn, in which Germany will participate, and the two sides will jointly agree on the specific methods of participation. Regarding defense industry cooperation, Merz stated that the fighter jet project under the "Future Combat Air System" framework, which was previously jointly promoted by Germany and France, failed due to industrial differences, but the two sides will continue to promote the development of key technologies such as "combat cloud" under this framework, and strengthen cooperation in areas such as integrated air defense systems and long-range weapons. Macron emphasized the importance of the consensus reached between France and Germany, while stating that France's nuclear deterrent force will continue to be fully funded by France. (Xinhua)
