IRIA News

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French President Emmanuel Macron has announced that France is open to extending its nuclear deterrence to its European allies, emphasizing the need for Europe to be prepared for a future in which the United States may not offer the same level of support in the Ukraine-Russia war.

“I’ve decided to open the strategic debate on the protection by our deterrence of our allies on the European continent,” Macron declared in a live broadcast on his official social media channels. He stressed the importance of Europe bolstering its defense while continuing to aid Ukraine.

Macron underscored that France’s nuclear arsenal is fully independent, stating, “Our nuclear deterrence protects us, it is complete, sovereign, French from end to end. This protects us much more than many of our neighbors.”

The French president made it clear that any decisions regarding France’s nuclear deterrence would remain solely in the hands of the French president, as the commander of the military.

Macron’s remarks signal a significant shift in European defense policy. He warned that the continent is “entering a new era” and that it would be “folly” for Europe to remain a “spectator” to Russia’s growing threat.

Concerns over US commitment to Europe’s defense

Macron expressed concerns about the United States’ changing stance on the Ukraine war, suggesting that Europe must prepare for a scenario in which it may need to act without full U.S. support.

“The United States, our ally, has changed its position on this war, is less supportive of Ukraine and is casting doubt on what will happen next,” he said. “I want to believe that the United States will remain by our side, but we need to be ready if that were not the case.”

While reaffirming France’s commitment to NATO and its partnership with the U.S., Macron stressed the need for greater European independence in defense and security matters. “We need to do more,” he said.

As part of his initiative to strengthen Europe’s military preparedness, Macron announced that he would be inviting European leaders to Paris next week to discuss a plan for achieving a “durable peace.” This could include the deployment of peacekeeping troops to Ukraine after a peace agreement is reached to prevent Russia from launching another invasion.

Support for a European nuclear umbrella

Macron’s comments follow recent remarks by Germany’s likely next chancellor, Friedrich Merz, who has called for discussions with France and the United Kingdom, Europe’s two nuclear powers, on expanding nuclear protection across the continent.

Macron has previously shown openness to this idea. In an interview last month, he stated, “If my fellow European leaders want to proceed towards greater autonomy and a deterrence capacity, well, we must open that discussion.”

Further reinforcing this stance, Macron told a French newspaper earlier this week that European nations interested in deepening dialogue on nuclear deterrence could participate in French military deterrence exercises.

Macron’s speech follows a crucial summit where he met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer. The meeting took place shortly after a tense encounter between Zelenskyy and U.S. President Donald Trump in the Oval Office, where differences over support for Ukraine were laid bare.

As European leaders work on a strategy to end the fighting in Ukraine, Starmer revealed that a small group of nations is developing a proposal that will eventually be presented to the U.S. Macron disclosed that France and the United Kingdom have put forward a plan for a month-long limited ceasefire in Ukraine.

Reducing dependence on the United States

Meanwhile, the French government is making it clear that Europe must reduce its dependence on American military support. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot emphasized this point in an interview, stating, “We can no longer tolerate being dependent on the United States, South Korea, or other countries for our military supplies and weaponry.”

Barrot warned that relying too heavily on the U.S. has left Europe vulnerable. “As we lived under the American shield, the threat crept closer to us,” he said.

Although Barrot reiterated that the U.S. remains a key ally, he cautioned that Europe must make its own strategic decisions. “They seem to be working toward peace. We’re not going to discourage them; that’s good news. But as we have been saying for weeks and months, peace must be a just and lasting one that definitively deters the threat,” he said.

Barrot also pointed out that the conflict in Ukraine has gone beyond conventional warfare, now extending to disinformation campaigns, cyberattacks, sabotage, and political assassinations abroad. “If we remain blind to this transformation of the threat, then yes, sooner or later, we will be drawn into war,” he warned.

Barrot described the current geopolitical climate as a “historic and serious moment.” He argued that the international order is under threat from aggressive powers that do not respect national borders.

“The UN is threatened by the resurgence of empires that believe borders no longer exist and that they can violate their neighbors’ integrity with impunity,” Barrot said.

He called for Europe to take a more proactive role in defending a world order based on “justice and law,” asserting that France would continue working toward a strong and self-sufficient European defense system.

France’s shift in rhetoric and policy highlights a broader transformation in Europe’s defense strategy. Macron’s proposal to extend nuclear protection to European allies, his call for greater military independence, and Barrot’s strong statements on European security reflect a continent preparing for an uncertain future.