French President Emmanuel Macron went into Berlin on Wednesday for a business dinner with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. Merz stated that the two leaders planned to discuss tariff negotiations between the EU and the US, as the deadline for 30% blanket tariffs on European goods approaches. However, an agreement with the United States is expected to be reached soon.
Joint defence strategy is also anticipated to be high on the agenda, particularly in light of mounting tensions over the Future Combat Air System (FCAS) fighter jet, which is set to be manufactured in Europe in collaboration with France, Germany, and Spain. The planes are projected to be ready by the end of the decade and begin service in 2040.
Conflict over fighter jets is on the verge of boiling over, as the three companies, France’s Dassault, Airbus Germany, and the Spanish company Indra Sistemas, are technically competitors, with Dassault reportedly seeking to dominate the process. The German-French MGCS (Main Ground Combat System) tank project may also encounter challenges.
Jacob Ross, a French-German relations specialist at the DGAP (German Council of Foreign Relations), told Euronews that he expects Macron will remain with FCAS, which has been an essential part of his security and European strategy since 2017.
Also Read:
In Texas, a Deadly Measles Outbreak Does little to Dispel Vaccine Skepticism
