IRIA News

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French President Emmanuel Macron has signaled his openness to deploying French nuclear weapons in other European countries, proposing a pan-European arrangement like the American model of stationing nuclear-armed aircraft across allied territories.

Speaking in a televised interview with a French broadcaster on May 13, 2025, Macron said, “The Americans have the bombs on planes in Belgium, Germany, Italy, Turkey. We are ready to open this discussion.”

The comments mark a bold step in Macron’s broader push to bolster Europe’s security posture independently of the United States, as the continent faces growing concerns over Russian aggression and the reliability of American defense commitments.

“I will define the framework in a very specific way in the weeks and months to come,” Macron added, underlining that while France is open to shared deterrence, its national defense capabilities would remain fully intact.

As the EU’s only nuclear power following Brexit, France holds approximately 280 nuclear warheads. These are launch-ready via air and sea, operated independently from French submarines and aircraft.

Macron made clear that any deployment abroad would be conditional: France would not pay for the defense of other nations, and ultimate control over the weapons would remain solely with the French president.

Growing interest across Europe

Macron’s remarks build on a proposal he floated in March to discuss how France’s nuclear deterrent could contribute to broader European security. The idea appears to be gaining traction among European leaders increasingly wary of relying solely on the United States for protection.

Germany, which already hosts up to 20 U.S. nuclear bombs at a military base, has expressed interest. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz emphasized last week in Paris that while Berlin is open to hosting French nuclear weapons, this would be “expressly not a substitute for the nuclear guarantee currently being given to Europe by the United States of America.” He reiterated Germany’s stance that it “cannot and must not have its nuclear weapons.”

Elsewhere, Poland, Denmark, and Lithuania have also indicated openness to joining a potential French-led nuclear umbrella. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said in March that Warsaw was “talking seriously” with France about being protected by French nuclear weapons. Interest in Eastern Europe is driven largely by fears of further Russian aggression following the invasion of Ukraine.

Still, Macron struck a careful tone, saying, “We must help Ukraine defend itself, but we do not want to unleash a Third World War.” He stressed that the goal remains to end the war and position Ukraine favorably for negotiations: “The war must cease and Ukraine must be in the best possible situation to go into negotiations.”

Kremlin reacts with alarm

Unsurprisingly, Macron’s comments drew a sharp rebuke from Russia. On May 14, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov warned that nuclear expansion in Europe would “not add security, predictability, and stability.”

“The proliferation of nuclear weapons on the European continent is something that will not add security,” Peskov said. “Right now, the entire system of strategic stability and security is in a deplorable state for obvious reasons.”

Moscow had already reacted strongly when Macron floated the idea in March, accusing France of trying to assert “nuclear leadership in Europe”, a move the Kremlin then described as “very, very confrontational.”

A fractured nuclear landscape

France’s push for a European nuclear shield comes at a time of uncertainty for NATO’s nuclear architecture. While Britain maintains its arsenal of around 225 warheads, its Trident system is heavily reliant on U.S. technology and maintenance, raising concerns about its ability to provide pan-European independent nuclear deterrence.

Macron’s initiative could redefine nuclear deterrence in Europe, shifting some of the strategic weight away from Washington. Whether this leads to a formalized European nuclear arrangement or remains a theoretical framework will depend on how talks unfold in the coming months and how firmly France can maintain control over any shared capabilities.