Statement des Verteidigungsministers und seines französischen Amtskollegen

Anlässlich des Deutsch-Französischen Ministerrats teilen die Verteidigungsminister von Deutschland und Frankreich gemeinsam mit:

During the Franco-German Council of Ministers of 22 January 2023, which celebrates the 60th anniversary of the signing of the Elysee Treaty, the Federal Minister of Defence Boris Pistorius and Minister for the Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu have expressed their willingness to
continue their close cooperation on the implementation of the following key projects regarding defence issues:

• Capability cooperation: to complete the major NGWSNext Generation Weapon System and MGCSMain Ground Combat System capability programmes. To continue joint efforts, on a bilateral basis and within the EUEuropäische Union, to support the development of a sovereign and innovative European DTIB, with a special focus on the space domain.
• Operational cooperation: to develop the capacity of the French and German Armed Forces to deploy together on operations, to project two mixed Franco-German battalions from the Franco-German Brigade for exercises in Romania and Lithuania, and to conduct a bilateral naval exercise in the Indo-Pacific by the end of 2024.
• Franco-German dialogue for the benefit of a European strategic culture: to further develop structural exchanges and integration between our Armed Forces. To maintain a sustained and high-quality dialogue on our assessment of the situation and our supportfor Ukraine. To work to have our positions converge on the implementation of the European defence initiatives arising from the Strategic Compass. 

During their warm and productive exchanges, the two ministers have agreed to regularly exchange information on the progress of these flagship projects and to continue the implementation of the other structuring projects in the field of defence.