France expands nuclear deterrent to eight European allies

In a speech delivered at the naval base on Ile Longue in Brittany, President Emmanuel Macron announced a major upscaling of France's nuclear arsenal and a new deterrence framework that could include eight European partners. He said the number of French warheads would rise from around 300 and that, in 2036, France would launch a new nuclear-armed submarine called The Invincible. Macron added, "The next 50 years will be an era of nuclear weapons," framing the move as a necessary response to a destabilized strategic environment.

Macron outlined an expanded "advanced deterrence" concept that would allow eight European countries — the United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Sweden and Denmark — to participate in exercises using France's air-launched nuclear capacity, and to host air bases where France's nuclear-capable bombers could be stationed. The aim, he said, was to allow France's Strategic Air Forces to "spread out across the depth of the European continent... and thus complicate the calculations of our adversaries." He also said partners would share in developing auxiliary capabilities, including space-based alarm systems, enhanced air defense to shoot down drones and missiles, and long-range missiles. He stressed that any attack on France would carry an unsustainable price for aggressors.

Officials described the move as one of the most significant shifts in French defence policy in years, designed to respond to Russia's growing assertiveness and a perceived shift in global security dynamics as the United States recalibrates its commitments. The announcement drew reactions from leaders beyond France's borders. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk posted on X that, "We are arming up together with our friends so that our enemies will never dare to attack us." Macron also underscored that Paris would retain sole decision-making power over the nuclear umbrella, even as allies participate in the expanded deterrence framework.

The plan signals a shift toward more expansive deterrence through alliance networks while maintaining French control over when and how its nuclear weapons would be deployed. The details of participation, budgeting, and governance are expected to unfold over the coming years as Paris pursues this novel approach to European security.

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