German Chancellor: Strengthening our military capabilities aims to make Europe safer
Berlin, July 17 (KUNA) -- German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said on Friday that strengthening his country’s military capabilities “aims to make Europe more secure,” emphasizing that Berlin views European cooperation as the cornerstone of its defense policies. This was stated in a press release issued by the German government’s media office ahead of the Franco-German ministerial meetings chaired by Chancellor Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron at the Benrath Palace in North Rhine-Westphalia, which began earlier today.
The statement noted that defense would top the agenda of the talks following the failure of the joint fighter jet project, with Berlin and Paris seeking to continue their cooperation in other areas, particularly the development of unmanned aerial vehicles and a joint air command system.
The two sides are also expected to discuss the new nuclear partnership they agreed upon last March, alongside issues of economy, cultural exchange between the two countries, and preparations for the next European budget—matters that continue to see differences between Germany and France.
Regarding the failure of the fighter jet project, the German government affirmed that the decision was “taken for objective and rational reasons” and that bilateral relations “will not be affected by the disagreement.”
On the other hand, the statement pointed to the continuation of cooperation between the two sides in other areas, particularly in the development of unmanned aerial vehicles and joint military communication platforms.
Earlier, before the meetings, the French president expressed optimism about the trajectory of bilateral relations in comments to journalists, saying that “the past months have witnessed a genuine Franco-German convergence on European issues,” and emphasizing that “the goal is to turn Europe into a force that unites its capabilities while respecting the specificity of each country.”
These talks come at a time when Germany is seeking to enhance its military capabilities, while France is closely monitoring the future balance within Europe, especially with the end of Macron’s presidential term approaching in 2027 and the possibility of a rise by far-right forces in the upcoming French elections. (End) A.N.J. / A.M.S.
