Merz receives Macron with military honours as German and French cabinets meet

On Friday morning, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron at the Noervenich air base near Cologne. The two leaders emerged from a Super Puma helicopter before leading a joint defense and security council held next to a French Rafale jet and a Eurofighter, a key component of Germany's air force.

At the meetings, the two sides are expected to launch a joint "steering group" to deepen cooperation on radar systems, "deep‑strike capabilities" and missile defense.