Key facts
- France and Germany will examine the development of a European sovereign digital backbone.
- The initiative aims to reduce reliance on U.S. company Palantir's military software.
- France's AI-powered military command-and-control platform Arcadia is cited as an example.
- The two nations will work with Britain to examine cooperation on long-range missiles.
- Cooperation on reconnaissance satellites and the use of European rockets for military launches will be increased.
France and Germany have pledged to explore the development of a European sovereign digital backbone, aiming to lessen their reliance on U.S. company Palantir's military software. This initiative follows France's domestic intelligence service ending its contract with Palantir and Germany's spy agency choosing a French alternative. The joint declaration, made after talks between Friedrich Merz and Emmanuel Macron, emphasizes data-centric security, artificial intelligence, and cloud solutions.
France's AI-powered military command-and-control platform, Arcadia, was highlighted as an example, alongside comparable German solutions. A top NATO commander had previously noted the lack of a substantial European alternative to Palantir's Maven software, which is also used by the alliance. Beyond software, the two nations agreed to create a "European collaborative combat standard" to enable communication and joint operations between fighter jets, drones, and other aircraft developed by different countries.
Further defense cooperation includes launching a research program for the Main Ground Combat System (MGCS) project, intended to replace current tanks with networked crewed and uncrewed vehicles. France, Germany, and Britain will also examine cooperation on long-range missiles, potentially with a range of 2,500 kilometers, exploring capabilities from Franco-German company ArianeGroup. In space, the two governments committed to closer cooperation on reconnaissance satellites and increased use of European rockets, such as Ariane 6, for military equipment launches. Additionally, France and Germany reiterated their support for a stock-market listing of tank-maker KNDS, contingent on market conditions and mutual government agreement.