The Franco-German Defence Partnership in Europe

The security shock of Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine has intensified debates on Europe’s defence capabilities, thrusting the Franco–German partnership into the spotlight. France and Germany together account for the EU’s largest military forces and defence industries. Their bilateral cooperation – often described as the “Franco-German engine” of European integration – has historically been seen as a catalyst for deeper EU defence integration, dating back to the 1963 Élysée Treaty and subsequent initiatives like the Weimar Triangle. At the same time, each power has cultivated a distinct strategic culture. France has traditionally championed the notion of European strategic autonomy – the ability to act militarily independent of the United States – while Germany, constrained by its postwar pacifist tradition and reliance on NATO, has long emphasized multilateral security frameworks. The two countries’ decisions profoundly shape Europe’s overall posture: their choices on defence spending, procurement and industrial policy determine whether the EU can field credible forces or must depend increasingly on U.S. capabilities.