The leaders of Germany and France had already proposed expanding France's nuclear deterrence cooperation with Germany.

Axar.az informs, citing Reuters, that the initiative came amid increasingly clear signals from Washington that the United States was seeking to reduce its defense commitments in Europe.

"We're taking a step-by-step approach here, and it may well end ‌up ⁠resulting in a new doctrine, but it's far too early to say that today," Merz said, adding that any cooperation would complement existing arrangements within the NATO alliance.

For the first time, German troops will take part in a French nuclear exercise, and the two leaders inspected an air base where a nuclear-capable French Rafale fighter refuelled alongside a German Eurofighter aircraft.
Macron said France would maintain full ​responsibility for paying for its ​nuclear deterrent.

"The funding for the ⁠French nuclear programme will always be provided by France," he said when asked whether France was considering having Germany help fund the programme.

Asked whether he would be comfortable cooperating with Marine Le ​Pen, leader of the far-right National Rally's (RN) parliamentary group, Merz said Germany's hand would remain extended ​to France, regardless ⁠of whom voters chose.

The so-called Future Combat Air System (FCAS) is set to continue despite the decision to abandon plans for a common fighter aircraft, with further development on the cloud-based information systems at the heart of the project.

"The remaining projects, including those relating to the ⁠cloud and ​other areas, are continuing to progress between our manufacturers," Macron said.

He said governance ​and supervision measures would be tightened for future defence cooperation, after the FCAS project fell apart amid disagreements between the two main industrial partners, France's Dassault, opens new tab and ​Airbus.