What Happened
Macron And Merz Meet Amid Tensions Over Major Armament Programs
French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz met to discuss deepening defense cooperation between their countries, seeking to overcome recent strains in their relationship. The talks centered on nuclear deterrence, missile defense, long-range strike capabilities, and space cooperation, with both sides pledging to focus on data links and combat cloud development. The meeting comes after the landmark Future Combat Air System (FCAS) fighter jet program was scrapped due to industrial rivalries. According to Defense News, the two countries aim to reaffirm their commitment to European defense sovereignty and reduce dependence on US technology.