Published on
17/07/2026 - 13:45 GMT+2
The leaders of France and Germany met on Friday for critical talks on the future of their defence cooperation after the collapse of a flagship joint fighter jet project last month.
For French President Emmanuel Macron there is an urgent need to make progress in this area before next spring's presidential election in which far-right National Rally leader Marine Le Pen is a frontrunner to be his successor.
The prospect of a Le Pen presidency adds yet more uncertainty for European countries already scrambling to boost defence capabilities in the face of the Russian threat and waning US commitment under President Donald Trump.
