BRUSSELS — The proposal by French President Emmanuel Macron to engage in discussions about leveraging France’s nuclear deterrent for the protection of Europe against Russian threats has been favorably received by Poland and the Baltic countries. This initiative, however, was quickly countered by Russia, labeling it as “extremely confrontational.”
The developments unfold as Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy meets with EU leaders in an urgent summit dedicated to defense and security in Brussels. On Wednesday, Macron initiated a “strategic debate,” addressing the potential use of France’s nuclear deterrent to shield European allies amidst growing concerns over a potential reduction of U.S. involvement. In a national broadcast, Macron clearly identified Moscow as a significant “threat to France and Europe.” France now stands as the sole nuclear power within the European Union.
On the other hand, Kremlin representative Dmitry Peskov declared Macron’s statement was “extremely confrontational,” suggesting that France might be more focused on the prospect of war rather than peace. Additionally, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, during a Moscow press briefing, condemned Macron’s proposal as a “threat” aimed at Russia.
In Brussels, Eastern European nations showed endorsement for Macron’s proposal. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, currently leading the EU presidency, mentioned the importance of considering the proposal earnestly. Although keen on the idea, Tusk emphasized that “the details matter,” acknowledging France’s proactive stance as a promising sign.
Similarly, Baltic nations expressed interest, advocating for increased defense spending among EU countries to preempt future threats from their Russian neighbor. Lithuania’s President Gitanas Naus?da described Macron’s proposal as “very interesting,” particularly a nuclear umbrella as a formidable deterrent against Russia. Latvian Prime Minister Evika Sili?a noticed the proposal as “an opportunity to discuss,” noting the time required for domestic and international deliberations.
According to the Federation of American Scientists, France holds the world’s fourth-largest nuclear arsenal with an estimated 290 nuclear warheads. The French arsenal comprises ballistic missiles aboard nuclear submarines, making up about 80% of the warheads, and cruise missiles launched by bombers. Though a part of NATO, France’s nuclear forces operate independently from the alliance’s command.
The United States and Russia, as assessed by the FAS, maintain more than 5,000 warheads each, collectively accounting for approximately 88% of the global nuclear arsenal. Trailing them is China, whereas the United Kingdom, which is not an EU member but aims to improve relations with the bloc, also possesses nuclear capabilities. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s spokesman, Tom Wells, noted that the U.K. already integrates its nuclear forces with NATO to ensure European security.
Historically, many nations depended on the U.S. nuclear umbrella during the Cold War, offering protection to allies, particularly NATO states, in threat scenarios, discouraging the pursuit of individual nuclear programs. Recently, Germany’s election victor and prospective chancellor Friedrich Merz advocated for dialogue on “nuclear sharing” with France. Germany partakes in hosting U.S. nuclear weapons under NATO’s policy, yet outgoing Chancellor Olaf Scholz defended the extant NATO deterrence mechanism, opposing its potential abandonment.
Macron reiterated on Wednesday that any decision to deploy France’s nuclear arsenal would remain solely under the authority of the French presidency.
