Paris: President Emmanuel Macron of France outlined a major evolution in France’s nuclear deterrent doctrine, including an increase in the overall number of nuclear weapons controlled by Paris — a move he described as necessary in this period of “ambient animosity” that “justifies a toughening of our [defence] model.”
Additionally, Macron revealed that France is in discussions with Germany, the United Kingdom, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Sweden and Denmark about potentially linking up on a “forward deterrence” effort related to France’s nuclear umbrella, though he stopped short of saying France would consider deploying its nuclear weapons to foreign soil.
In a 45-minute speech to armed forces personnel and officials at a dry-dock featuring a French SNLE (sous-marin nucléaire lanceur d’engins) nuclear ballistic missile submarine, Macron said that it was “indispensable” for France to “upgrade [its] arsenal,” though he said France “will no longer communicate on their numbers.”
Macron acknowledged that his speech was one of “assumed might in the service of peace,” explaining that “we cannot be satisfied with our current trajectory, and I owe the nation the absolute assurance that our nuclear deterrence remains credible.”
“Our doctrine is not based on the idea of a graduated nuclear response,” he said. “France’s nuclear armament is strategic and exclusively strategic.”
He also did not mince his words of warning to potential enemies: “If we have to use our nuclear arsenal then no state, however powerful it might be, will be able to avoid it. None, however vast it might be, would recover. A single one of our submarines carries more strike power than all the bombs that fell in Europe during World War II. It’s almost 1,000 times greater than the first nuclear bombs.”
He remarked that “our adversaries have changed, our partners too, the world is getting tougher as the last few hours have shown,” referencing the war in Iran.
“We must reinforce our nuclear deterrence against the combination of threats, and we have to think of our strategic deterrence within the depths of the European continent in the full respect of our sovereignty with the progressive implementation of what I will call an advanced deterrent,” he said.
He acknowledged that France’s nuclear might “is not achieved without effort,” but that this was paying off because in the next few months the new M51.3 missile will be carried by the French navy’s SNLE, and a “new, optimised oceanic nuclear warhead to penetrate all defences.”
Macron also announced that a fifth SNLE, to be named “Invincible,” will be built and ready to launch by 2036.
The French president added, “This year we are going to launch the very ambitious programme for a hypersonic and manoeuvrable strategic missile which will equip our combat aircraft and our future aircraft carrier in the next decade.”
Turning to Europe, Macron first mentioned the tightening of ties with the United Kingdom in July 2025. “The UK is a major partner and nuclear power with whom we have recognised since 1995 that there is no situation that engages the vital interests on one without those of the other being affected.”
He also noted that France has intentionally never outlined what exactly its vital interests are.
