PARIS — Emmanuel Macron announced Monday that France will, for the first time, allow the temporary deployment of its nuclear-armed aircraft to allied countries under a new nuclear strategy aimed at strengthening Europe’s strategic independence.Speaking at a military base in L’Île Longue that hosts France’s ballistic missile submarines, Macron also revealed the first increase in the country’s nuclear arsenal in decades.“To be free, one needs to be feared,” Macron said, outlining a doctrine designed to reinforce Europe’s deterrence posture amid shifting global security dynamics.Macron said the new framework would “provide for the temporary deployment of elements of our strategic air forces to allied countries,” while stressing that France would not share decision-making authority over the use of its nuclear weapons with any other nation.He said discussions have begun with Britain, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Sweden and Denmark regarding potential arrangements.The announcement comes as European leaders voice growing concerns about long-term US security commitments under the nuclear umbrella, particularly amid renewed tensions with Russia and evolving US defense priorities.Macron said France will also allow partner countries to participate in deterrence exercises and enable non-nuclear allied forces to take part in French nuclear-related activities.In a joint statement, Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said France and Germany would deepen integration in deterrence beginning this year, including German conventional participation in French nuclear exercises and joint visits to strategic sites.Macron confirmed that France would increase the number of its nuclear warheads — currently below 300 — though he did not specify the scale of the expansion. It marks the first such increase since at least 1992.“I have decided to increase the numbers of warheads of our arsenal,” he said, adding that the goal is to ensure that France’s deterrence maintains its assured destructive power.He reiterated that any decision to use France’s nuclear weapons would remain solely in the hands of the French president.France has been the only nuclear power in the European Union since Britain’s exit from the bloc in 2020, while the United Kingdom remains the only other Western European nation with a nuclear deterrent.PARIS — Emmanuel Macron announced Monday that France will, for the first time, allow the temporary deployment of its nuclear-armed aircraft to allied countries under a new nuclear strategy aimed at strengthening Europe’s strategic independence.Speaking at a military base in L’Île Longue that hosts France’s ballistic missile submarines, Macron also revealed the first increase in the country’s nuclear arsenal in decades.“To be free, one needs to be feared,” Macron said, outlining a doctrine designed to reinforce Europe’s deterrence posture amid shifting global security dynamics.Macron said the new framework would “provide for the temporary deployment of elements of our strategic air forces to allied countries,” while stressing that France would not share decision-making authority over the use of its nuclear weapons with any other nation.He said discussions have begun with Britain, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Sweden and Denmark regarding potential arrangements.The announcement comes as European leaders voice growing concerns about long-term US security commitments under the nuclear umbrella, particularly amid renewed tensions with Russia and evolving US defense priorities.Macron said France will also allow partner countries to participate in deterrence exercises and enable non-nuclear allied forces to take part in French nuclear-related activities.In a joint statement, Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said France and Germany would deepen integration in deterrence beginning this year, including German conventional participation in French nuclear exercises and joint visits to strategic sites.Macron confirmed that France would increase the number of its nuclear warheads — currently below 300 — though he did not specify the scale of the expansion. It marks the first such increase since at least 1992.“I have decided to increase the numbers of warheads of our arsenal,” he said, adding that the goal is to ensure that France’s deterrence maintains its assured destructive power.He reiterated that any decision to use France’s nuclear weapons would remain solely in the hands of the French president.France has been the only nuclear power in the European Union since Britain’s exit from the bloc in 2020, while the United Kingdom remains the only other Western European nation with a nuclear deterrent.
