On Monday, French President Emmanuel Macron announced that France would be increasing the number of nuclear warheads in its arsenal.
Macron made this declaration from L’Ile Longue military base, which serves as the home for the country’s nuclear submarines.
As the only nuclear power within the European Union, France has positioned itself as a nuclear deterrent for the bloc, particularly in light of a growing uncertainty regarding its partnership with the United States.
“An upgrade of our arsenal is essential,” Macron stated from the Brittany base. “We are currently experiencing a period of geopolitical upheaval fraught with risk.”
“That’s why I ordered an increase in the number of nuclear warheads in our arsenal,” he continued.
“Whoever wants to be free must be feared. Whoever wants to be feared must be strong,” he added.
With approximately 290 nuclear warheads, France ranks as the world’s fourth-largest nuclear power, following the United States, Russia, and China.
However, Macron did not specify the exact number of warheads by which the French arsenal would be expanded.
The shift in France’s nuclear doctrine includes enhanced cooperation with European allies, such as Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Denmark, according to Macron.
Currently, France operates four nuclear-armed submarines that can be deployed discreetly in oceans worldwide, boasting a range of around 10,000 kilometers. Additionally, the country has Rafale fighter jets capable of launching cruise missiles with nuclear warheads at a distance of approximately 500 kilometers.
This announcement comes amid growing concerns regarding the reliability of the US nuclear umbrella—a policy designed to protect American allies, particularly within NATO, from nuclear threats.
France last augmented its nuclear arsenal in 1992.
Tensions with the US escalated earlier this year when President Donald Trump appeared reluctant to abandon his ambitions to acquire Greenland from Denmark, an EU and NATO member.
Although he eventually reversed his stance, European powers are increasingly questioning Washington’s intentions, a sentiment that may persist beyond Trump’s presidency.
Germany has also engaged in discussions, with Chancellor Friedrich Merz suggesting that German Air Force aircraft could be utilized to transport French nuclear bombs.
