Macron strengthens nuclear arsenal and threatens to use it to defend France’s “vital interests”

The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, announced this Monday that he has ordered the reinforcement of the French nuclear arsenal and has warned that they will use it if the country’s “vital interests” are at stake, at a time of “uncertainty”, following the increase in tensions in the Middle East.

Macron has stated that he will never “hesitate to take the decisions that are necessary to protect” the “vital interests” of France. “If we used our arsenal, no State, no matter how powerful, could prevent it. No State, no matter how large, would recover,” the president said.

“In this dangerous and unstable world, to be free you have to be feared,” the French president remarked during a speech from Île Longue in Brest, in which he stressed the idea of ​​developing an “advanced” nuclear deterrent in Europe in the face of “the combination of threats” that loom over the continent.

In this sense, he stated that this initiative “offers the possibility for partners to participate in nuclear deterrence exercises” and explained that up to eight European countries have so far accepted this proposal, such as Germany, the United Kingdom, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Sweden and Denmark.

Macron – who has also announced that Paris, London and Berlin “will collaborate on very long-range missile projects” – has detailed that, through this initiative, Paris could deploy “strategic air forces” of French aviation in the territory of allied countries, while allied forces could participate in nuclear activities led by France.

“We are living in a period of geopolitical upheaval full of risks, and our fellow citizens are fully aware of this. This period justifies a strengthening of our model,” he said, adding that “anyone who dares to attack France knows the unbearable price they would have to pay.”

However, he stressed that “the final decision” on a possible launch of a nuclear attack against a potential enemy will not be shared, since said decision will remain in the hands of the French Presidency amid strong criticism from opposition parties, such as the National Rally, which consider that a distribution of the French “nuclear umbrella” is equivalent to its abolition.

Macron has indicated that advanced deterrence remains “perfectly complementary” to NATO’s work and has stressed that Europeans have become accustomed to their security depending on “third-party rules”, thus urging the continent to “regain control of its own destiny.”

The French president has also explained that this occurs in a context in which both China and Russia are “developing increasingly sophisticated protection systems”, although he has said that “it is not about entering into any arms race.” “That has never been our doctrine,” he noted.

Macron, who has defined nuclear deterrence as “the cornerstone” of France’s Defense strategy, also announced during the speech that in 2036 a new nuclear submarine with ballistic missiles will be launched, which will be called ‘L Invincible’.

REACTION OF ALLIES TO THE FRENCH PROPOSAL

Later, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk stated on social media that Warsaw is already holding “talks” with Paris and a group of allies to promote the advanced nuclear deterrence program proposed by France.

For his part, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has assured that they intend to take “concrete measures before the end of the year”, including “German participation in nuclear exercises” led by Paris.

Likewise, the Swedish Prime Minister, Ulf Kristersson, and the Belgian Prime Minister, Bart De Wever, have confirmed that they will join the French deterrence initiative that will promote the “strengthening of European security and defense.”