French President Emmanuel Macron announced a significant increase in France’s nuclear warhead stockpile and unveiled a new “forward nuclear deterrence” plan for Europe in a landmark speech from a ballistic-missile submarine base in Brittany on Monday.
French President Emmanuel Macron delivers a speech next to the submarine ‘Le Temeraire’ (The Temerarious) at the nuclear submarines Navy base Ile Longue in Crozon, France, March 2, 2026. Yoan Valat /Pool via REUTERS
“I have ordered an increase in the number of nuclear warheads in our arsenal,” Macron said, adding that France will no longer disclose the size of its nuclear arsenal. “I will never hesitate to take the decisions that are essential to protect our vital interests. If we were to use our arsenal, no state could avoid it.”
As reported in Euronews, currently, France is estimated to possess around 290 nuclear warheads, according to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI). The announcement comes as European security faces multiple challenges, including Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and the expanding war in Iran.
The submarine ‘Le Temeraire’ (The Temerarious) at the Nuclear submarines Navy base of Ile Longue in Crozon, France, March 2, 2026. Yoan Valat /Pool via REUTERS
Forward Deterrence Across Europe
Macron outlined a “progressive implementation” of a forward nuclear deterrence strategy, positioning it as a complementary European layer to NATO rather than an alternative. The plan will include “circumstantial deployments” of strategic capabilities across European allies, beginning with joint exercises.
Eight European countries—including the United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Sweden, and Denmark—have expressed interest in participating. These nations will be able to host French strategic air forces, allowing forces to operate and “spread out across the European continent.”
Poland is in talks with France and a group of closest European allies on the programme of advanced nuclear deterrence. We are arming up together with our friends so that our enemies will never dare to attack us.
— Donald Tusk (@donaldtusk) March 2, 2026
Soon after the address, Paris and Berlin announced a “high-ranking nuclear steering group” to coordinate exercises, site visits, and the development of conventional capabilities with European partners.
Sovereignty and Collaboration
French President Emmanuel Macron meets members of the army at the Nuclear submarines Navy base of Ile Longue in Crozon, France, March 2, 2026. Yoan Valat /Pool via REUTERS
Macron emphasized that decisions regarding nuclear use will remain France’s sovereign responsibility, with “no sharing of the final decision” or vital interests. The plan also includes collaboration with London and Berlin on very long-range missile projects as part of the broader European Long Range Strike Approach, which also involves Italy, Poland, and Sweden.
The French president revealed that the future ballistic-missile submarine will be named Invincible and is scheduled to sail in 2036, underscoring France’s unique status as the only nuclear power within the European Union.
Globally, nine countries are thought to possess nuclear weapons, with France being one of the five recognized nuclear-weapon states under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, alongside Russia, the U.S., the U.K., and China.
