The Franco-German (and Spanish) Future Combat Air System (FCAS) project collapsed before its first test flight, exposing a deep crisis in relations between France and Germany. German officials leaked the announcement, surprising French counterparts who blamed Berlin, revealing a long-standing divergence beyond just defense. This breakdown, amidst global upheaval, triggers historical suspicions and prevents the EU from effectively asserting its geopolitical influence.
The article proposes a permanent Franco-German situation room, a bilateral institutional framework, to ensure daily coordination across politics, defense, and industry. This is crucial given their mismatched leadership temperaments, diverging domestic politics, and strategic cultures. Germany seeks to emerge from Paris's strategic dominance, still reliant on the American security guarantee, while France is wary of Berlin's assertiveness. Despite tensions, a nuclear steering group was established in March 2026, and cooperation in AI and quantum computing continues, demonstrating potential for transformational breakthroughs if coordination is institutionalized.
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