France to increase nuclear arsenal - Macron

France intends to increase its nuclear arsenal and may temporarily deploy warheads abroad for the first time, French President Emmanuel Macron said. On Monday, he unveiled a new doctrine of "forward deterrence" that envisions deeper cooperation between France and European countries, Bloomberg reported.

"Strengthening our arsenal is essential," Macron said, speaking at a submarine base in Brittany. - To be free, you need to be feared, and to be feared, you need to be strong.

Macron said France is strengthening nuclear cooperation with seven EU countries - Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Sweden and Denmark. He also singled out Britain as a key partner - it has its own nuclear deterrent capability but is technologically dependent on the US for its exploitation. According to Macron, European allies will be able to participate in nuclear exercises with France. In addition, France can temporarily station its nuclear-equipped aircraft in these countries.

"What I want most of all is for Europeans to regain control of their own destiny," Macron said.

European governments are facing the most challenging security situation since the Cold War, Bloomberg notes. Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, now in its fifth year, and U.S. President Donald Trump's statements questioning the U.S. commitment to NATO have heightened concerns in European capitals.

France is the only nuclear power in the EU. According to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, cited by Bloomberg, its nuclear arsenal numbers about 290 warheads, compared to 540 in the early 1990s.

This article was AI-translated and verified by a human editor