French and German Defence: The Opportunities of Transformation

French and German militaries have been transforming. Transformation is necessary. As the strategic landscape evolves – and indeed evolves ever faster – national armed forces need to be adapted to keep up with the times, and best serve their country’s interests.

The on‐going transformation of French and German militaries has created challenges, but it has also opened new avenues for cooperation. This paper hopes to provide a full assessment of the current state of Franco‐German affairs in security and defence, and set out a potential way forward in view of such opportunities.

France and Germany have a strong history of cooperation in the area of defence. Over the years, the main driver for it has traditionally been political; and the hurdle to it has been the differences in the way both countries view the world. Is there a way to better overcome such differences today? How might the hurdles to cooperation be overcome in a way that is strategic, meaningful and mutually beneficial?

This paper sheds light on some of the key locks and levers of cooperation. Looking at the Franco‐ German relationship, it identifies the converging and diverging trends that underlie transformation in both countries, to gauge the likelihood for success or failure of further cooperation. In particular, it maps the current political and military state of play on both sides of the Rhine, from ambitions and capabilities to defence industrial matters…