PARIS: French President Emmanuel Macron has said he is open to discussing whether France’s nuclear arsenal could help protect its European allies, as he warned that Europe must take the threat from Russia seriously. France and Britain are Europe’s only two nuclear powers.
“Our nuclear deterrent protects us: it is complete, sovereign, French through and through,” Macron said in his televised speech.
“But, responding to the historic call of the future German Chancellor, I have decided to open the strategic debate on the protection of our allies on the European continent through our (nuclear) deterrence,” Macron said.
German Chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz has questioned whether NATO would remain in its “current form” by June and advocated talks with France and Britain about expanding their nuclear protection.
France’s nuclear deterrence strategy has hitherto been defensive and aimed at protecting the country’s own vital interests.
In his televised speech, Macron also said France would have to spend more on defence and would continue to help Ukraine. He acknowledged voters’ concerns over Russia and the new US administration’s upending of the international order.
He said he wanted to believe that the United States “will remain at our side,” while adding that Europe must be prepared if that was no longer the case.
“You are, I know, legitimately worried about current events, which are disrupting the world order,” Macron told voters. “Russia has become a threat to France and Europe,” he said, adding that “to watch and do nothing would be madness.” European countries are scrambling to boost defence spending and maintain support for Ukraine after President Donald Trump froze US military aid to Kyiv and fuelled doubts about Washington’s commitment to its European NATO allies. –Agencies
