Merz’s comments come at a time of increased friction between Berlin and Paris after French industrial players pushed to claim 80 percent of the work on the program’s core element — the next-generation fighter jet — sparking alarm inside German industry and government.
Merz on Wednesday admitted the cross-border disputes remain unresolved.
“We have resolved to clarify this issue conclusively over the next few months,” Merz said regarding what he referred to as “discussions in France,” adding: “The different views on the composition of this consortium have not yet been resolved.”
Merz’s remarks mark his first public comments on FCAS since POLITICO reported that Airbus, the lead industry partner for Germany in the initiative, is seeking a meeting with the chancellor to warn that the project could collapse without a political reset before French President Emmanuel Macron visits Berlin later this month.