French President Emmanuel Macron said he wants to strengthen his country’s nuclear deterrent. Speaking on Monday in Île Longue, the site of France’s nuclear‑submarine base, he remarked that the world has “hardened” a view that has become even clearer in recent hours. Macron stressed that France must rethink its deterrence strategy all the way to the “depth of the European continent” respecting national sovereignties while gradually building a more advanced deterrent.
He warned that Ukraine’s “great war” poses a “massive danger” to Europe. Russia, according to Macron, is acting revisionist and exhibiting a “brutal imperialism” backed by a substantial nuclear arsenal. China, he added, is preparing to match the United States militarily and already produces more weapons than any other country worldwide. These developments, he said, call for a reassessment of national defence and security strategy, urging Europe to take greater responsibility for its own safety.
Macron also cautioned that the risk of nuclear escalation is rising, and France must design a deterrent that is “future‑proof”. He announced an increase in the number of nuclear warheads to “eliminate any speculation” and declared that France would no longer disclose the exact count of its warheads.