PARIS, March 2 (Xinhua) -- France and Germany have established a high-ranking nuclear steering group to strengthen deterrence cooperation, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced in a joint declaration issued on Monday.
According to the declaration posted by the Elysee, the two countries agreed that the nuclear steering group will facilitate bilateral consultations on a strategic mix of conventional forces, missile defense, and French nuclear capabilities.
The two nations agreed to initiate concrete steps this year, including German conventional participation in French nuclear exercises and joint visits to strategic sites, and the development of conventional capabilities with European partners, it said.
The declaration reaffirmed that the nuclear dimension of deterrence remains a cornerstone of European security, stressing that their cooperation would complement, not replace, the nuclear deterrence and nuclear-sharing arrangements of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to international obligations, including the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. They pledged to maintain close coordination with the United States, Britain, other allies and NATO.
On the same day, Macron announced that he had ordered an increase in the number of France's nuclear warheads to strengthen the country's arsenal. ■
