Germany’s Merz backs joint fighter jet project but says rift with France remains

BERLIN — German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Wednesday reaffirmed his support for Europe’s next-generation fighter jet program but acknowledged ongoing tensions with France over how the project is structured.

Speaking alongside NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte in Berlin, Merz said he is committed to honoring past agreements with Paris and Madrid on the Future Combat Air System, a multibillion euro initiative to begin to replace current fighter jet fleets by 2040.

“I absolutely want us to stick to the agreements we have made with France and Spain with regard to FCAS,” Merz said, calling it “a good project for European defense," adding: "We need such aircraft" to meet Germany’s operational requirements.

Merz's comments come at a time of increased friction between Berlin and Paris after French industrial players pushed to claim 80 percent of the work on the program’s core element — the next-generation fighter jet — sparking alarm inside German industry and government.

Merz on Wednesday admitted the cross-border disputes remain unresolved.

“We have resolved to clarify this issue conclusively over the next few months," Merz said regarding what he referred to as "discussions in France," adding: "The different views on the composition of this consortium have not yet been resolved.”

Merz’s remarks mark his first public comments on FCAS since POLITICO reported that Airbus, the lead industry partner for Germany in the initiative, is seeking a meeting with the chancellor to warn that the project could collapse without a political reset before French President Emmanuel Macron visits Berlin later this month.