French President Emmanuel Macron has ordered an increase in France\u2019s nuclear warheads and outlined plans to involve European allies more closely in the country\u2019s deterrence strategy.<\/p>\n
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Speaking at the \u00cele Longue naval base in Brittany, home to France\u2019s ballistic missile submarines, Macron said the current security climate required a shift in doctrine and a stronger arsenal.<\/p>\n
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\u201cAn increase of our arsenal is indispensable,\u201d he said, standing before the nuclear-powered submarine Le T\u00e9m\u00e9raire.<\/p>\n
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He did not disclose how many additional warheads France would acquire.<\/p>\n
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France holds about 290 to 300 nuclear warheads, according to official and expert estimates, making it the world\u2019s fourth largest nuclear power after the United States, Russia and China. It remains the only European Union member state with nuclear weapons. The United Kingdom, which left the EU, also maintains a nuclear arsenal.<\/p>\n
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Macron said the decision reflected new threats and changes in global security. He cited Russia\u2019s war in Ukraine, the erosion of arms control agreements and shifts in United States defence priorities.<\/p>\n
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\u201cTo be free, one must be feared, and to be feared, one must be powerful,\u201d he said. \u201cWe must strengthen our nuclear deterrent in the face of multiple threats.\u201d<\/p>\n
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He stressed that the ultimate authority to use nuclear weapons would remain solely with the French president. France would continue to define its \u201cvital interests\u201d independently.<\/p>\n
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At the same time, Macron proposed what he described as an \u201cadvanced\u201d or forward deterrence model that would deepen cooperation with European partners.<\/p>\n
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He named Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Sweden, Denmark and the United Kingdom as countries engaged in discussions. These states could take part in nuclear deterrence exercises and host temporary deployments of French nuclear-capable aircraft.<\/p>\n
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\u201cIt will ultimately provide for the circumstantial deployments of elements of our strategic air forces to allied countries,\u201d Macron said, referring to squadrons of nuclear-capable Rafale fighter jets.<\/p>\n
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He added that cooperation would take place in coordination with the United Kingdom and in transparency with the United States. France\u2019s deterrent would complement NATO\u2019s nuclear mission rather than replace it, he said.<\/p>\n
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France and Germany have established a joint nuclear steering group to coordinate on doctrine and the balance between conventional forces, missile defence and French nuclear capabilities. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Berlin and Paris aimed to take \u201cconcrete steps\u201d before the end of the year, including German participation in French nuclear exercises.<\/p>\n
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Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk confirmed<\/a> that Warsaw was in talks with France and other allies on what he called an advanced nuclear deterrence programme. Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said<\/a> Stockholm was ready to join discussions, while maintaining that Sweden did not plan to host nuclear weapons in peacetime.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n The European Commission said it would monitor security and energy risks linked to rising tensions in the Middle East, as EU leaders met to assess broader defence and evacuation measures.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n France maintains a sea-based and air-based deterrent. At least one of its four ballistic missile submarines patrols at all times. Macron said a single submarine carried a strike capability comparable in scale to the total tonnage of bombs dropped on Europe during the second world war.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n He rejected suggestions that France was entering an arms race. \u201cIt is essential that our adversaries cannot even glimpse the possibility of hitting France without the certainty of suffering damage they would not recover from,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
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