French President to Address Nuclear Defense as Europe Questions US Protection

French President Emmanuel Macron will present his updated nuclear strategy Monday as European nations grow concerned about America's defense commitments under President Trump. The speech comes amid discussions about whether France could help fill potential gaps in US nuclear protection for European allies.

PARIS – French President Emmanuel Macron plans to present his country’s updated nuclear strategy Monday, rejecting the idea of shared European nuclear control while explaining what France might provide to allies concerned about America’s nuclear protection under President Donald Trump.

While both France and Britain possess nuclear weapons, most European nations depend heavily on the United States for protection against potential threats — a cornerstone of transatlantic security for decades.

However, Trump’s closer ties with Russia regarding the Ukraine conflict and his tougher stance toward traditional partners — including threats to take control of Greenland, which belongs to NATO member Denmark — have unsettled European leaders.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced in Munich earlier this month that Berlin had begun talks with France about creating a European nuclear deterrent. Macron described this as needing a “holistic approach of defence and security.”

Several other nations, including Nordic countries traditionally supportive of the US, have carefully shown interest in such discussions.

DOUBTS ABOUT FRANCE’S REACH

Behind closed doors, European officials wonder whether France’s nuclear arsenal can adequately defend the entire continent. Their concerns involve sharing costs, determining who would make launch decisions, and whether emphasizing nuclear weapons might reduce crucial investments in conventional military forces.

France allocates approximately 5.6 billion euros ($6.04 billion) annually to maintain its collection of 290 nuclear weapons launched from submarines and aircraft — ranking fourth globally in arsenal size.

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte told the European Parliament in January: “For Europe, if you really want to go it alone… you have to build up your own nuclear capability. That costs billions and billions of euros.”

“You would lose the ultimate guarantor of our freedom, which is the U.S. nuclear umbrella,” he added.

Expert analysis indicates the US maintains roughly 100 nuclear weapons across Belgium, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey as part of NATO’s deterrent strategy.

During wartime, these non-nuclear nations’ air forces would deploy the American weapons under what’s called “nuclear sharing” policy.

US Undersecretary of Defence Elbridge Colby assured allies in Brussels this month that Washington will maintain its nuclear protection for Europe, despite investing over a trillion dollars in upgrading its own weapons systems.

French leadership emphasizes Paris doesn’t aim to replace American protection or challenge NATO’s role.

Etienne Marcuz from the FRS research institute explained in a recent analysis: “While U.S. nuclear forces’ primary mission is to target adversary nuclear arsenals, their French and British counterparts aim to inflict unacceptable damage on the political, military, and economic centres of potential adversaries.”

“This doctrine requires far fewer warheads to be credible,” he noted.

CLARIFYING FRANCE’S APPROACH

French authorities want Europeans to better grasp what France’s nuclear policy can and cannot deliver. However, Paris insists that financing its deterrent remains exclusively French to maintain complete national authority.

A fundamental aspect of France’s position involves “strategic ambiguity” about when nuclear weapons might be deployed and where French essential interests align with broader European security.

This lack of clarity troubles some partners.

“We first want to see what France has to offer… It’s not about having deterrence. It’s about how credible it is,” stated a senior eastern European diplomat.

Any expanded French nuclear role would require Europe to create long-range strike missiles exceeding 2,000 kilometers — technology currently unavailable.

Creating tactical nuclear weapons for battlefield use, rather than strategic weapons for long-distance strikes, appears even more unlikely.

Officials believe such development would raise serious concerns under nuclear non-proliferation agreements that European governments have long supported.

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas told Brussels reporters this month: “We understand where these discussions are coming from. They’re stemming from the fact that our transatlantic alliance is not what it used to be.”

“My personal view is that, you know, if we have more nuclear weapons all around the world, I don’t think we’re going to be in a more peaceful world,” she said.

MACRON’S NUCLEAR STRATEGY UPDATE

At France’s nuclear submarine facility in Brittany, Macron will present his traditional once-per-presidency nuclear doctrine briefing.

France’s approach seeks to maintain a small but effective arsenal capable of inflicting damage significant enough to prevent any initial attack.

“Just discussing alternatives is sending a message to Moscow,” observed a senior European official.

French officials provided no advance details about Macron’s address but noted the strategic environment has changed dramatically since his previous speech in 2020, pointing to Russia’s expanding arsenal and heightened nuclear threats following its 2022 Ukraine invasion.

France has consistently stated its essential interests include a European component. In 2020, Macron extended invitations to partners for strategic consultations — an offer that received limited interest then.

Officials confirmed one principle remains constant: only France’s president can authorize nuclear weapons use.

“It is the case and will remain so,” a French presidential adviser confirmed.