He emphasized the need for France to adopt “a forward deterrence” as the world becomes more threatening. This involves increasingly including European countries in France’s deterrent, starting with nuclear drills participation.
“This will eventually allow the deployment of our strategic air force elements to allied nations,” he mentioned, referring to the nuclear-capable Rafale fighter jet squadrons.
Countries interested in closer nuclear deterrence collaboration with Paris include Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Sweden, and Denmark.
With around 300 warheads, France has about a tenth of the U.S. and Russian arsenals. Macron stated France would not disclose the number of warheads it has or plans to add, stressing the increase is necessary to maintain the arsenal’s “credibility.”
“This is not an arms race … it is vital that adversaries, or a combination, cannot even consider striking France without facing damage they would not recover from,” warned the French president.
This story is developing.
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