France is set to boost its nuclear capabilities and extend its strategic deterrence to other European countries, marking the most significant shift in French nuclear defence policy since 1960.
Speaking at the Ile Longue naval base near Brest, President Emmanuel Macron outlined the changes as a response to an “increasingly unstable strategic environment.” “The next 50 years will be an era of nuclear weapons,” he said, standing in front of a French nuclear submarine.
As part of the new policy, France will increase its nuclear warheads from the current level of around 300 and will launch a new nuclear-armed submarine, The Invincible, in 2036.
Macron also announced a new “advanced deterrence” strategy involving eight European nations – the UK, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Sweden, and Denmark. These countries will be able to participate in exercises using France’s air-launched nuclear capacity, host air bases for French nuclear bombers, and contribute to the development of auxiliary capacities, including space-based early warning systems, air defence against drones and missiles, and long-range missile technology.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk praised the initiative on X, stating: “We are arming up together with our friends so that our enemies will never dare to attack us.”
Under the updated doctrine, France’s president retains sole authority over the use of nuclear weapons, and no formal guarantee will be given to partner countries. The policy continues to rely on the principle of deterrence: adversaries must understand that any attack on France would carry an “unsustainable price.”
The announcement also signals a shift in France’s approach to “vital interests.” While historically vague, Macron’s new doctrine suggests that French nuclear deterrence may extend to defending European partners, though details remain deliberately ambiguous. France will also no longer disclose the number of nuclear warheads it possesses.
France has previously cooperated with the UK, Europe’s other nuclear power, and UK officials have recently participated in exercises with France’s Strategic Air Forces (FAS). Following Macron’s speech, France and Germany announced plans for closer cooperation in nuclear deterrence, including German participation in French nuclear exercises and the development of conventional capacities with European partners. Officials stressed that this cooperation will complement, not replace, NATO’s nuclear deterrent.
Melissa Enoch
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