Emmanuel Macron wants to “open the debate” around European defense, including in particular the use of French nuclear weapons.“Let’s put everything on the table and look at what really protects us in a credible way,” pleaded the head of state this Saturday.
French nuclear weapons in the service of Europe? The President of the Republic Emmanuel Macron once again said he was ready to “open the debate” of a European defense which would also include nuclear weapons. “I am in favor of opening this debate which must therefore include anti-missile defense, long-range weapon firing, nuclear weapons for those who have them or who have American nuclear weapons on their soil”declared the Head of State, in an interview with young Europeans published by the Ebra group newspapersSaturday April 27.
“Let’s put everything on the table and look at what really protects us in a credible way”insisted Emmanuel Macron, who nevertheless warns that France will keep “its specificity”. “But it is ready to contribute more to the defense of European soil”he said.
There is a European dimension to our vital interests
There is a European dimension to our vital interests
Emmanuel Macron
Since Brexit and the United Kingdom’s exit from the European Union, France is the only one of the 27 member states to have a nuclear deterrent. During his speech on Europe on Thursday April 25 at the Sorbonne, the President had already pleaded for a “powerful Europe” and the creation of a defense Europe “credible” alongside NATO and against Russia, which has become much more threatening since its invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
“This may mean deploying anti-missile shields, but we must be sure that they block all missiles and deter nuclear use”explained Emmanuel Macron. “Being credible also means having long-range missiles which would deter the Russians. And there is nuclear weapons: the French doctrine is that we can use them when our vital interests are threatened. I have already says that there is a European dimension to these vital interests, without detailing them because this deterrence would contribute to the credibility of European defense.”
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During his speech at the Sorbonne, the Head of State had already addressed this question of French nuclear weapons, which regularly comes up in discussions on European defense. “Nuclear deterrence is in fact at the heart of the French defense strategy. It is therefore in essence an essential element in the defense of the European continent”he declared.
The construction of a defense Europe has been an objective of France for a very long time, but it has often encountered reluctance from its partners who considered the NATO umbrella more secure. The possible return to the White House of Donald Trump, however, revives the debate on European autonomy in matters of defense.