France wants more nuclear weapons

“We will no longer disclose figures relating to our nuclear arsenal, contrary to what may have been the case in the past […] But this does not mean that we are entering into any kind of arms race.”

That has never been our doctrine,” he said.
“Before the nation, in these uncertain times, I repeat emphatically: as president, I will never hesitate to take the decisions that are essential to protect our vital interests. If we were to use our [nuclear] arsenal, no state would be able to escape,” insisted the French president.

Macron’s speech, which had been planned for some time, came two days after the launch of the Israeli-American operation in Iran that led to the death of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

This war “brings and will bring its share of instability and possible conflagration to our borders,” warned the French president. Added to this is pressure from Russia, which has regularly raised the specter of nuclear confrontation since the start of its invasion of Ukraine in 2022, as well as growing doubts about the reliability of the United States.Ukraine in 2022—as well as growing doubts about the reliability of the United States.

“Our deterrence is robust and effective; anyone who would dare to attack France knows the unsustainable price they would have to pay,” the French president insisted in his speech.
“To be free, you must be feared.” The interests of France, one of the two nuclear powers in Europe along with the United Kingdom, “cannot be confused with the mere outline of our national borders,” he continued, recalling the strategic importance of the Atlantic and the Mediterranean.Europe along with the United Kingdom, “cannot be confused with the mere outline of our national borders,” he continued, recalling the European dimension of French deterrence since the time of General de Gaulle.

Faced with increasing risks, France must therefore move to “a whole new level,” namely “advanced deterrence.” This initiative would be deployed beyond French borders. “Our partners are ready,” said President Macron, citing eight European countries: the United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Sweden, and Denmark.
“Cooperation will begin with joint exercises,” and this will be done “in full transparency with the United States.” These nations will be able to host “strategic air forces” from the French Air Force, enabling them to “deploy across the European continent.” The French president said that this nuclear effort remains “perfectly complementary [to] that of NATO, both strategically and technically.”

“Germany will be a key partner in this effort,” President Macron emphasized. The two countries immediately announced the establishment of a joint “nuclear steering group.”

Shortly after his speech, France and Germany issued a joint statement committing to “take concrete measures starting this year, including Germany’s participation in French nuclear exercises, joint visits to strategic sites, and the development of conventional capabilities.”Germany in French nuclear exercises, joint visits to strategic sites, and the development of conventional capabilities with their European partners.”

The French president insisted that France would remain sovereign in the use of force. “[French deterrence] must remain a French intangible […] There will be no sharing of the ultimate decision, neither in its planning nor in its implementation; it belongs solely to the President of the Republic.”

France is the only nuclear power in the European Union. Nine countries in the world possess atomic weapons: Russia, the United States, France, the United Kingdom, China, India, Pakistan, Israel, and North Korea.

Of these countries, only the first five are permanent members of the UN Security Council and are legally recognized as officially possessing this weapon under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, which came into force in 1970.

While France currently has 290 nuclear warheads, Russia and the United States each have just over 1,700 deployed warheads. China has 600 in stock or deployed, and the United Kingdom has 225, according to the Swedish think tank SIPRI.