France is increasing its nuclear arsenal in a new strategy. Among the measures, exercises with European partners and the possibility of deploying nuclear aircraft in allied countries
Emmanuel Macron. Credit: Ludovic MARIN / AFP / Profimedia
French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that his country will increase its nuclear arsenal and strengthen its deterrence capabilities. As part of the new nuclear strategy, Paris will allow the deployment of its nuclear aircraft in allied countries, and its partners will be able to participate in French nuclear deterrence exercises, Reuters, Le Monde and AP wrote.
In a speech at a submarine base in Brittany on Monday, Macron stressed that a “strengthening” of the French deterrence model was needed, given that “we are currently going through a period of geopolitical turmoil full of risks”.
According to the French president, the “advanced deterrence” approach will give European allies the opportunity to “participate in French deterrence exercises” and allow “the temporary deployment of elements of our strategic air forces in allied countries.”
“There will be no sharing of the final decision – neither in planning nor in implementation,” Macron said.
“Europeans to regain control of their own destiny”
He said that the countries with which he has launched discussions about this project, “developed in full transparency with the United States of America”, are Great Britain, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Sweden and Denmark on this topic.
The French president complained that “Europeans have become accustomed to depending for their security on rules made by third parties.”
“Our era requires a different method. We need to rebuild a body of rules,” Emmanuel Macron added.
“What I want more than anything, as you understand, is for Europeans to regain control of their own destiny,” the French head of state stressed.
France had not increased its nuclear arsenal since 1992
In Monday's speech, Emmanuel Macron also said that France would increase its number of nuclear warheads, from the current 300, but did not provide figures. It will be the first time the country has taken such a step since at least 1992, according to AP.
This model “will strengthen our defense by giving it a purpose,” the French leader added.
“It will provide a new strategic depth, consistent with the security challenges in Europe. Its value will be, I think, very strong also for the partners who enter this logic with us and whose territory will acquire a strong connection with our deterrence”, he argued, stating that this mission “would add to NATO's nuclear mission”.
