French President Emmanuel Macron announced Monday that France will allow for the temporary deployment of its nuclear-capable aircraft to allied countries as part of a new nuclear strategy, a move signaling a heightened state of alert amid escalating global tensions.
Speaking at a naval base in Île Longue, northwestern France, Macron emphasized that the command chain for any nuclear launch remains solely with the French president. “The decision to launch a nuclear attack ultimately rests exclusively with the President of the Republic,” he stated.
The French leader described the shift as a progressive move toward what he termed “advanced deterrence,” designed to bolster France’s nuclear capabilities in response to a complex and growing array of threats. The development underscores a broader European effort to reassess security strategies in a volatile geopolitical landscape.
According to Macron, eight European nations have already agreed to participate in the plan: the United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Sweden, and Denmark. These countries could potentially host French Air Force strategic assets, effectively extending France’s nuclear reach across the continent and, as Macron explained, “complicating calculations for adversaries.”
“We are currently experiencing a period of disruption filled with risks, and our citizens are fully aware of this,” Macron said, justifying what he characterized as a necessary strengthening of France’s defense posture.
The new “advanced deterrence” strategy is intended to be compatible with the existing framework of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO). Macron also outlined potential elements of this advanced deterrence, including demonstrations of nuclear capabilities, even beyond the borders of allied nations, and the conventional participation of allied forces in nuclear activities.
In addition to the strategic shift, Macron announced plans for the construction of a new nuclear submarine, to be named “The Invincible,” with a projected launch date of 2036. He underscored the immense destructive power of France’s nuclear arsenal, stating that each of the country’s submarines possesses a capacity equivalent to all the bombs dropped on Europe during World War II – a thousand times greater than the first atomic bombs.
France and the United Kingdom are the only Western European countries with independent nuclear arsenals, developed during the Cold War to maintain a deterrent separate from that of the United States. Macron further stated that France, Germany, and the United Kingdom will collaborate on projects related to long-range missiles, aiming to provide “new options for conventionally managing escalation” within the framework of the European Long Range Strike Approach (ELSA) initiative, which also includes Italy, Poland, and Sweden.
Macron also addressed the impact of the conflict involving Iran, triggered by actions from the U.S. And Israel, citing the instability and challenges it poses to France. He warned that this instability “brings and will bring with it instability and a possible conflict on our borders.” He indicated he would revisit the issue of Iran’s nuclear and ballistic capabilities in the coming days.
The announcement follows a previous statement on Sunday, in which Macron pledged to “reinforce its posture and defensive support” after Iranian attacks targeted countries in the Gulf, including the United Arab Emirates, where a hangar at a French base was struck.
