Asger Risom
The French president signals openness to discussing stationing nuclear-capable aircraft abroad.
The security landscape of Europe continues to shift amid heightened tensions following the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In a move that could significantly reshape Europe’s defense posture, French President Emmanuel Macron has suggested France may be willing to share its nuclear deterrent with European allies under strict conditions.
France Opens the Door to a Nuclear Discussion
During an interview on TF1, Macron stated that France is “ready to open” a discussion about deploying French nuclear-capable aircraft to other European countries, much like the United States does with its own nuclear umbrella. His comments were reported by Digi24.
“I will define the framework in an official way over the coming weeks and months,” Macron said.
France remains the only European Union country with its own nuclear weapons, making this proposal especially significant as discussions about European defense intensify.
Macron’s Three Conditions
The French president set out three key conditions for any potential arrangement:
- France will not pay for the security of others.
- The deployment will not diminish France’s own defense capabilities.
- The final decision will always remain with the French president as commander of the armed forces.
Macron emphasized that French nuclear policy has always incorporated an undefined “European dimension,” but that strategic ambiguity is crucial to deterrence.
Poland Shows Interest
Poland, which has become a central player in European defense discussions and a strong supporter of Ukraine, has already indicated interest in participating in any potential French nuclear deterrence arrangement.
Macron added that discussions of this nature reflect the evolving security needs of Europe but must remain consistent with France’s established principles of deterrence:
“We do not specify vital interests because ambiguity goes hand in hand with deterrence.”