Germany’s F-35 Deal Strains Ties With France Over EU Defense Vision

Germany’s decision to acquire U.S.-made F-35 fighter jets has reignited tensions with France over the future of European defense cooperation. The $8.4 billion deal to replace Germany’s aging Tornado fleet with Lockheed Martin’s stealth aircraft is viewed in Paris as a betrayal of the Franco-German Future Combat Air System (FCAS), which aims to produce a next-generation European fighter jet by 2040.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s government insists that the F-35 acquisition was a necessity driven by Germany’s NATO obligations and the need for nuclear sharing capabilities under U.S. deterrence frameworks. German officials say the Tornado, currently Germany’s only nuclear-capable aircraft, must be retired urgently, and no European system will be ready in time.

Paris, however, sees the move as a blow to Europe’s strategic autonomy. French officials argue that relying on U.S. systems weakens the rationale—and the urgency—of FCAS, a flagship joint initiative launched in 2017 to ensure European military independence from Washington.

A French Defense Ministry source warned that the deal could "dilute commitment" to the FCAS program. France is reportedly pushing for clear reaffirmation from Berlin that it remains fully invested in the FCAS development timeline, which has already suffered from political and industrial delays.

NATO and Industrial Implications

The F-35 deal also reshuffles Europe’s defense industrial landscape. It aligns Germany more closely with other NATO states like Italy, the UK, and Poland that have opted for the American jet, deepening integration with U.S. defense contractors but potentially marginalizing European firms like Dassault Aviation.

Some German lawmakers have also voiced concern that the F-35’s procurement could siphon resources and political will from homegrown innovation, particularly in sensitive areas such as stealth and avionics.