Friedrich Merz says Germany will join a "nuclear exercise" of French armed forces

During a July 17 summit in Nörvenich, Germany, Chancellor Friedrich Merz and President Emmanuel Macron announced new defense agreements, including a plan for German forces to take part in a French nuclear drill later in 2026. The announcement followed a joint air exercise the previous day involving French Rafales and German Eurofighters, refueled by a French tanker. Merz stated on social media that Germany would join a “nuclear exercise of the French armed forces,” referencing France's recurring Poker deterrence drill. The moves build on a March 2026 strategic declaration and aim to deepen bilateral military cooperation amid rising hybrid threats linked to Russia’s war in Ukraine.