French President Emmanuel Macron will announce changes to France's nuclear doctrine, reinforcing its deterrent capabilities amidst growing instability.
French President Emmanuel Macron is set to reveal modifications to France's nuclear doctrine at a speech on Monday, delivered from the ÃŽle Longue submarine base. This location, which serves as the home base for four submarines armed with nuclear weapons, underscores the longstanding philosophy of French presidents, highlighting the importance of maintaining a nuclear deterrent in an increasingly unstable global landscape.
Currently, France maintains a nuclear arsenal of less than 300 warheads, a figure that has remained stable since 2008, when then-President Nicolas Sarkozy declared a "modest but significant" reduction. Under Macron's leadership, France asserts that this arsenal is sufficient to deliver "absolutely unacceptable" damage to critical political, economic, and military centers of any state that threatens French vital interests, emphasizing the country’s readiness to defend its sovereignty and security.
In a climate of rising geopolitical tensions, the deliberate ambiguity in Macron's language regarding deterrence points to potential changes. Sources from the Élysée Palace refer to "substantial evolutions," suggesting there may be a shift towards increased military readiness or strategic adjustments in the face of security challenges in Europe, as the continent engages in renewed discussions regarding collective defense and nuclear strategy.
