France plans to expand its nuclear arsenal and broaden deterrence coverage to European partners. Eleven hours ago. Hugh Schofield, Paris. The text has already been paraphrased as it is a proper noun and does not require any changes. France plans to expand its nuclear arsenal and broaden its deterrence to include other European nations, marking a significant shift in its nuclear defense strategy. In a speech delivered in Brittany, President Emmanuel Macron described the adjustments as a reaction to a growingly volatile strategic landscape. “The coming 50 years will mark an age of nuclear arms,” he stated. Addressing naval officers beside a nuclear submarine at the Ile Longue base near Brest, he revealed that France would raise its stockpile of nuclear warheads beyond the current approximately 300. He disclosed the 2036 deployment of a new nuclear-armed submarine named The Invincible. Macron noted that eight other European countries—the UK, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Sweden, and Denmark—have consented to join a fresh “advanced deterrence” initiative. On X, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk commented on the move, stating: “We’re building up arms alongside our allies to ensure our foes never dare strike us.” Macron stated that the eight European nations could participate in drills for France’s air-launched nuclear capability—known as the force de frappe—and also host air bases for France’s nuclear bombers. This would enable France’s Strategic Air Forces (FAS) to “spread out across the depth of the European continent… and thus complicate the calculations of our adversaries,” the president remarked. He further noted that France’s partners would collaborate on developing “auxiliary” capabilities under the new nuclear doctrine: space-based early warning systems; air defenses to intercept incoming drones and missiles; and long-range missiles. Getty Images. Officials describe “advanced deterrence” as the most significant shift in French strategic thinking since 1960, yet it largely preserves the core concept outlined by then-President Charles de Gaulle. France will offer no explicit “guarantees” to partner nations, with the president holding exclusive authority to decide on launching a nuclear missile. The goal is still to persuade potential foes that “if they dare attack France… they will face an unbearable cost,” as the president stated. Previously, France maintained deliberate ambiguity over its “vital interests”—whose violation would prompt a nuclear retaliation. In recent years, however, governments have suggested that these could extend to interests in Europe. Macron’s “advanced deterrence” concept has further developed this idea—although, per general deterrence theory, no specifics are detailed. On the same basis, Macron announced that France will cease publicly disclosing the quantity of its nuclear warheads going forward. France already maintains a cooperation pact with Europe’s sole other nuclear-armed nation, the United Kingdom.
