Photo: Depositphotos
French President Emmanuel Macron said he was ready to consider the possibility of deploying French nuclear weapons on the territory of allies in Europe, if necessary, to compensate for the possible withdrawal of the United States from the nuclear deterrent on the continent. He said this in an interview with Le Figaro after a summit of European leaders in London dedicated to supporting Ukraine.
According to Macron, Paris is ready to deepen cooperation with EU partners in the field of nuclear security and joint threat deterrence.
“Those who want to deepen the dialogue with us will be able to participate in deterrence exercises if necessary. Such exchanges will help create a true strategic culture among Europeans,” Macron said.
At the same time, the French president stressed that the country is not changing its nuclear doctrine, but is convinced that the topic of nuclear weapons “should not be a taboo for discussion”.
This statement came amid growing uncertainty about the stability of transatlantic cooperation, in particular due to political changes in the United States and the risk of weakening European support.
Analysts are already considering Macron’s words as one of the first real signals of the possibility of creating a European nuclear umbrella in case the United States reduces its presence or influence in the region.
The topic of nuclear deterrence has gained new relevance against the backdrop of continued Russian aggression against Ukraine, growing threats to Europe, and the need to strengthen defence cooperation within the EU.
