Correction: France's armed forces minister called her own wording of "extremely clear"  —  in reference to the U.S. president's message to NATO partners to boost fiscal contributions  —  as diplomatic.

PARIS — France will partner with Germany and pursue European defense cooperation in a highly pragmatic way, in view of grave instability around the world, French Armed Forces Minister Sylvie Goulard said Monday.

France will develop as much as possible on a cooperative basis, with "great pragmatism," Goulard said at her first news conference since her May 17 appointment by President Emmanuel Macron.

Goulard said she would make her first ministerial trip to Berlin this week to meet her German counterpart, Ursula von der Leyen. The previous French defense minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, had told her there were certain projects, "such as working with Germany in aviation," and with certain other countries, she said.

The aim was to cooperate, but on a selective basis.

"We will continue with two or three in a pragmatic way," as there is need for "building blocks" before moving to the next level, she said. 

That French approach echoes Britain's policy switch to a tightly controlled industrial cooperation in Europe following production problems and budget overrun on the A400M military transport.

There is a "fast-changing geopolitical environment" in light of U.S. President Donald Trump's speech to NATO last Thursday; the "reality" of Britain's exit from the European Union, or Brexit; instability in the Middle East; the threat of terrorism; and "certain states" investing heavily in defense, she said.

France would seek to preserve bilateral ties with the U.K., despite Brexit, she said.

The pursuit of a European defense was "extremely crucial," she said. Part of that work is the European Commission's expected proposal on European Union funding for defense technology, she added.  

The incoming government will start work on the multiyear budget law, a priority project that will be "ambitious" and require parliamentary approval, she said.   

Trump's message to the NATO partners to boost funds for the alliance was "extremely clear," she said, emphasizing her wording as diplomatic.

Asked about Trump's widely noticed failure to evoke his support for Article 5 of the NATO treaty, which calls for collective defense among members, Goulard said that as a lawyer she views the treaty as binding whether or not an article is mentioned.

It was Macron's idea to change the ministerial title to armed forces minister from defense minister to highlight the importance of the civil and military personnel in the services, Goulard said.

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