02.03.2026 19:41
French President Emmanuel Macron announced that his country has decided to expand its nuclear arsenal and strengthen its deterrence.
French President Emmanuel Macron stated that France will expand its nuclear arsenal and strengthen its deterrence, drawing attention to global developments.
MACRON'S "NUCLEAR" STATEMENT
Macron made statements regarding France's nuclear strategy at the Ile Longue Base, where nuclear submarines are located, in the city of Brest in the west of the country. Speaking during a period of increasing threats from Russia and questioning of relations with the United States, Macron said, "They must fear us for us to be free."
Announcing a change in the doctrine regarding the possible use of France's nuclear weapons, Macron stated, "We are going through a period of geopolitical fracture. We must strengthen our (nuclear) model."
"WE WILL INCREASE THE NUMBER OF NUCLEAR WARHEADS"
Macron defined the new doctrine as "complementary to NATO's efforts in a strategic and technical sense" and as "advanced deterrence." Announcing that France will increase the number of nuclear warheads for the first time in decades, Macron did not provide information regarding the number of these warheads.
Macron noted that the "advanced deterrence" phase will offer European allies the opportunity to participate in French deterrence exercises and that they will work together on long-range missiles to expand conventional deterrence options with Germany and the United Kingdom.
In an international environment where Russia's aggression has increased and relations with Europe have become increasingly questioned during President Donald Trump's era in the United States, discussions have intensified about France, the only nuclear power in Europe, expanding its nuclear umbrella to cover all of Europe.