PARIS: France will temporarily station nuclear‑armed aircraft in allied European countries and enhance its deterrence capabilities President Emmanuel Macron announced Monday. Speaking at a submarine base in Brittany Macron described the current period as one of geopolitical upheaval fraught with risk and emphasized the need for a stronger nuclear posture.
Under the updated French nuclear doctrine nuclear capable jets could be deployed temporarily to partner nations a strategy Macron termed forward deterrence. While authority over any nuclear strike remains exclusively with the French president allied countries including Germany Poland the Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark will be invited to participate in joint nuclear exercises.
France and the United Kingdom remain Europe’s only independent nuclear powers, while most other nations rely on the United States for nuclear deterrence. Macron highlighted that shifts in US foreign policy in recent years have prompted some European governments to pursue closer continental cooperation.
The new doctrine aims to reassure European allies and strengthen France’s role in continental security. Macron emphasized that the enhanced deterrence measures will ensure that France can respond effectively to emerging threats while maintaining control over nuclear decision-making and reinforcing strategic stability across Europe.
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