Germany Taking Part in First French Nuclear Forces Exercise as Military Buildup Against Russia Escalates

German conventional forces have been announced to be set to participate in a French nuclear forces exercise later in 2026, marking a major landmark in defence cooperation between the two countries. The move marks a historic step in Franco-German strategic cooperation and reflects Europe’s growing emphasis on strengthening its own nuclear deterrence to reduce reliance on U.S. security guarantees. The agreement follows talks between German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron, during which both leaders also confirmed the deployment of French nuclear-capable Rafale fighters to Noervenich Air Base in Germany as the first operational step in their expanded strategic partnership. 

Germany and France have also agreed to establish a closer strategic dialogue linking conventional forces, long-range precision strike weapons, missile defence, and nuclear deterrence. The two countries stated that this cooperation is intended to strengthen European deterrence while complementing, rather than replacing, NATO’s existing nuclear posture and nuclear-sharing arrangements. The German Air Force notably already trains to launch nuclear strikes under a nuclear sharing agreement with the United States, with multiple analysts having speculated that a similar agreement could be established with France should the country expand the number of warheads it has in service. 

Germany and France are both planning to field new land-based strategic missile systems that could potentially be used for nuclear delivery, with French President Emmanuel Macron having pledged in January that his country and its European partners will work towards expedited development of new long-range weapons. He highlighted the need to field a similar capability to that provided by Russia’s new Oreshnik intermediate range hypersonic ballistic missile. The German Defence Ministry in mid-July confirmed the procurement of the Typhon Mid-Range Capability missile system and Tomahawk Block V cruise missiles from the United States, which provide the capability to strike targets across much of Western Russia. 

In March 2025 President Emmanuel Macron announced the planned opening of a fourth airbase hosting with nuclear-capable fighter aircraft, stating that Luxeuil Air Base in eastern France was set to host Rafale fighters capable of carrying nuclear weapons. Citing the ongoing war in Ukraine as a factor which had “changed the situation,” the senator for the region, Cedric Perrin, confirmed that the first Rafale squadron would arrive at Luxeuil in 2032, and would gain an operational capability the following year, followed by a second operational squadron in 2036. The German Air Force in 2022 placed its first order for F-35A fifth generation fighters, and has since significantly expanded planned numbers, with the primary goal of modernising its nuclear delivery capabilities under nuclear sharing agreements with the United States.