France, Germany expand defence partnership as Europe seeks more military autonomy

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron pledged on Friday to deepen defence cooperation and counter intense economic competition from China, which they said was exerting drastic pressure on Europe through overcapacity and an undervalued currency.

The leaders met as part of a regular series of joint cabinet meetings, looking to get past tensions over the collapse of a joint fighter jet project earlier this year.

"We are doing what is necessary to safeguard our freedom, our security and our collective defence," Merz told a joint press conference at which the two outlined a list of objectives including missile defence and long-range strike systems.

Both leaders took aim at China, which they said was not respecting the rules of international trade by offering at least eight times the level of state support to its industry seen in other countries in the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.