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Radio France Internationale
Radio France Internationale
World
RFI

Franco-German defence project under strain as Berlin signals possible exit

French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz pictured on 13 February at the Munich Security Conference. © Liesa Johannssen / REUTERS / Montage RFI

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has cast doubt on one of Europe’s most ambitious joint defence projects, suggesting Berlin could ultimately walk away from the Future Combat Air System programme over deepening differences with France.

In an interview broadcast on Wednesday, Merz said that Germany’s military needs diverge from those of France, raising questions about whether the two countries can continue to jointly develop a fighter jet.

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