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President Emmanuel Macron said he would have interviews with allies on the way in which France’s nuclear weapons could protect Europe, while the continent intensifies efforts to protect himself against embittered Russia.
In an address on television on Wednesday, Macron responded to a call from the German Chancellor of Friedrich Merz to find out if France and the United Kingdom would be willing to make a form of “nuclear sharing” if the United States became a less reliable partner.
“Our nuclear deterrence protects us. He is complete, sovereign and entirely French, ”said Macron. “However, in response to the historic call of the future German Chancellor, I decided to open the strategic debate on the protection of our European continental allies by our deterrence.”
The question should come to an emergency summit of EU leaders in Brussels on Thursday which will focus on new ways of finance European defense spending while US President Donald Trump presss Ukraine to conclude a peace agreement with Russia.
The Trump administration reported that the United States no longer wanted to be the de facto security guarantor of Europe via NATO, and seems rather determined to ensure a closer relationship with Russia.
The Trump upheaval of the Transatlantic Alliance has shocked European countries which fear that Russia has a long -term risk for Ukraine and the entire continent.
In response, Europe is preparing several different stages, including the softening of the EU deficit rules which have retained higher defense expenses and the introduction of increased regional cooperation on the development of weapons and purchases.
On the idea that France extending its nuclear shield to its European allies, Macron concerned that any decision concerning the use of weapons “has always been and will always remain in the hands of the President of the Republic”.
In its nuclear doctrine, France indicated that “vital interests” guided when weapons could be used have a European dimension, but it has never specified how – in order to preserve the ambiguity necessary for effective deterrence.
The French nuclear arsenal is much smaller than the American equivalent and could therefore not offer the same level of security to Europe as America.
France would also be unlikely to offer the arrangements that the United States has presented in its nuclear sharing agreement which is an important part of NATO’s deterrence.
The agreement allows several European members of NATO, such as Germany and Italy, to welcome American nuclear weapons on their soil and to maintain fighter planes capable of transporting them.
However, Macron has long pleaded for a stronger Europe that does not depend on the United States for security.
“The future of Europe does not have to be decided in Washington or Moscow,” he said. “I want to believe that the United States will stay by our side. But we must be ready if it was not. »»
Macron said European military budgets will have to take up new challenges, which has caused difficult choices on public spending.
“These will be new investments that will require a private financing mobilization as well as public funding, without increasing taxes,” he added. “To achieve this, reforms, choices and courage will be necessary.”
