Macron unveils expansion of France’s nuclear arsenal, opens door to European deterrence cooperation
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Speaking at the L’Île Longue naval base in northwestern France — home to the country’s ballistic missile submarines — Macron argued that Europe must assume a more autonomous role in its own defense amid Russia’s war against Ukraine and shifting U.S. strategic priorities.
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Politics Macron unveils expansion of France’s nuclear arsenal, opens door to European deterrence cooperation March 2, 2026 11:27 pm • 3 min read by Olena Goncharova France will increase its nuclear warhead stockpile for the first time in decades and may temporarily deploy nuclear-capable aircraft to partner nations, President Emmanuel Macron announced on March 2, outlining what he called a necessary adaptation to a more dangerous security environment. Speaking at the L’Ile Longue military base in northwestern France, home to the country’s ballistic missile submarines, Macron argued that Europe must take greater responsibility for its own defense as Russia continues its full-scale war against Ukraine and uncertainty grows around future U.S. security commitments. "To be free, one needs to be feared," Macron said . "To be strong in our nuclear deterrence , we must be strong in our conventional capabilities in all their dimensions. It is on these two pillars that our defense is based, and I emphasized their importance as early as 2020. But recent years have clearly shown the glaring lack of support capabilities in Europe. And this situation is untenable. " France remains the European Union’s only nuclear power since the United Kingdom left the bloc in 2020. Under France’s constitution, the president retains sole authority over the use of nuclear weapons. Macron made clear that while France would deepen cooperation with European partners, no other country would share decision-making power over its nuclear arsenal. Become a member – go ad‑free Macron said France could temporarily deploy elements of its strategic air forces to allied states and invite partners to participate in nuclear deterrence exercises. He added that discussions on closer coordination have already begun with the U.K., Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Sweden, and Denmark. The announcement marks the first time since at least 1992 that France will expand its number of nuclear warheads. M...
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