France is set to outline how it could leverage the European Union’s sole nuclear arsenal to help defend the continent amid rising instability, marked by a more assertive Russia and a shifting stance from the United States.
President Emmanuel Macron will deliver the address at the Île Longue nuclear submarine base, following recent US and Israeli strikes on Iran that have heightened tensions in the Middle East.
Macron is expected to present updates to France’s nuclear doctrine as Russia’s war in Ukraine enters its fifth year and NATO members question Washington’s long-term security commitments. European countries, long reliant on the US nuclear umbrella since the Cold War, are increasingly debating whether to reinforce their own deterrence capabilities.
Paris has engaged in discussions with nations such as Germany and Poland on how France’s nuclear forces might contribute to broader continental defense. Last year, Macron signaled openness to talks about deploying French nuclear-capable aircraft to other European states.
In February, he also referenced the possibility of a revised doctrine featuring special cooperation, joint exercises, and shared deterrence arrangements with selected partners.
France is estimated to possess around 290 nuclear warheads, making it the world’s fourth-largest nuclear power. The United Kingdom — no longer an EU member — is the only other nuclear-armed state in Europe, while the United States and Russia maintain far larger arsenals numbering in the thousands.
