Emmanuel Macron said France could, for the first time, temporarily deploy nuclear warheads outside the country and intends to increase the size of its arsenal.
On Monday, March 2, he unveiled a new doctrine he described as “forward deterrence.” It envisages deeper cooperation between France and seven other European states, including Germany and Poland, as well as the participation of partners in joint exercises or the deployment of their conventional forces in support roles.
“Today, a new step in the development of French deterrence is possible. We are entering the path of what I call forward deterrence,” the French president said while speaking at the Île Longue base, which hosts France’s nuclear-powered submarines. “This includes, in particular, the temporary deployment of elements of our strategic air forces on the territory of allied countries,” he added.
Macron had already proposed in 2020 that European states open a “strategic dialogue” with France on nuclear deterrence, but the initiative at the time received little backing.
Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and doubts about the United States’ commitment to Europe’s defense following Donald Trump’s return to the White House last year have forced European capitals into an urgent reassessment of their security posture.
Against this backdrop, the French president set out more clearly how France’s nuclear capabilities could be used to help protect other European countries. According to Paris, in-depth talks have already taken place with Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, and Sweden, all of which are prepared to expand cooperation.
“This is about a genuine strategic convergence among our states, aimed at giving real depth to the defense of our continent,” Macron said. At the same time, he stressed that the core principles of French deterrence—no joint decision-making and France’s full autonomy—would remain unchanged.
Macron’s remarks came just hours after a suspected Iranian drone struck a British air base in Cyprus. It marked the first such attack on European territory since U.S. and Israeli strikes over the weekend killed Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.