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Amidst tensions and uncertainty between the US and Europe, France’s President Emmanuel Macron has stepped up and proposed an initiative that could turn the tide on European security.
In early 2020, French President Emmanuel Macron suggested discussions about how his nation’s nuclear forces could play a part in Europe’s collective security.
He greatly emphasized France’s nuclear doctrine, strictly focusing on extreme circumstances of self-defense. At that time, as he highlighted the need for a strategic dialogue, the reactions from other nations in the region were relatively muted.
Five years later, amidst the shift in the United States’ foreign policy, Macron yet again proposed extending France’s nuclear deterrent to protect European allies. On a live social media broadcast, he expressed his hope for the US’s continued allyship with Europe, but at the same time, the region would have to ‘be ready if that were not the case’.
He emphasized that the decision to use nuclear weapons would exclusively remain with the French President, ensuring that France maintains full control over its nuclear arsenal.
So far, the proposal has been welcomed by nations like Poland and the Baltic states, who see this as a vital opportunity to enhance European security. Additionally, Friedrich Merz, who is likely the next German chancellor, suggested that his nation discuss the possibility of nuclear sharing with France and the United Kingdom.
Unsurprisingly, Russia was not thrilled by Macron’s proposal. In fact, its Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov characterized it as a ‘threat’ to Russia. The Kremlin’s Spokesman Dmitry Peskov also described Macron’s remarks as ‘very, very confrontational’. He went on to suggest that France wanted the war in Ukraine to continue and that the nation had a desire for nuclear leadership in Europe.
Europe’s nuclear arsenal
Europe’s arsenal is primarily composed of weapons held by nuclear superpowers France and the UK. When both nations come together, they have just short of 550 nuclear warheads – France holding the majority and boasting the ranking of fourth-largest global nuclear power.
Though the UK has full control over its deterrent with the Prime Minister’s authorization, it still relies on US infrastructure. Trident, the UK’s nuclear deterrent system, is composed of submarines, missiles, and warheads.
The system uses British-manufactured warheads that are fitted onto US supplied Trident II D5 missiles, which are leased from the US Navy. They are manufactured and maintained by Lockheed Martin. As such, Triden has become a part of NATO’s collective defense framework, providing a nuclear deterrent for NATO member states.
Circling back to Merz’s hope to share nuclear weapons, the UK’s ability to share them autonomously is constrained by its weapons’ ties to the US. Moreover, since its arsenal is already assigned to NATO, it limits its flexibility to act independently outside the alliance. As such, there are no formal plans for the nation to expand its role beyond NATO commitments.
All signs point to France’s potential position in leading European nuclear deterrence due to its full sovereignty, the active push on this initiative, and the support it has started garnering from several nations.
