President Emmanuel Macron says France would increase the number of its nuclear warheads and cooperate with eight European countries to help protect the continent as key NATO ally Washington turns away.
Macron warned Monday that a widening war between the United States, Israel, and Iran risks spilling over to Europe's borders, as he unveiled a new strategy for France's nuclear deterrence.
The Middle East conflict, which began on Saturday, "brings and will continue to bring instability and a possible conflagration to our borders, with Iran's nuclear and ballistic capabilities still intact", he said.
Macron's presentation of the country's updated nuclear doctrine comes as Russia's war against Ukraine grinds into a fifth year, prompting worry among NATO allies about Washington's wavering commitment.
European nations, which have relied on the US nuclear deterrent throughout the Cold War and in the decades since it ended, are increasingly debating whether to bolster their own atomic arsenals.
"We must strengthen our nuclear deterrent in the face of multiple threats, and we must consider our deterrence strategy deep within the European continent, with full respect for our sovereignty," Macron said in his speech given at France's Ile Longue nuclear submarine base in Brittany.
He announced "the gradual implementation of what I would call advanced deterrence".
Macron announced a series of concrete measures in a bid to bolster Europe's security as France's allies are concerned that a possible win by the eurosceptic far-right National Rally party of Marine Le Pen in next year's presidential election could undermine cooperation in Europe.
"An upgrade of our arsenal is essential," Macron said. "That's why I ordered an increase in the number of nuclear warheads in our arsenal."
Macron added however that France would no longer be disclosing details on its nuclear stockpile.
France maintains the world's fourth-largest nuclear arsenal, estimated at around 290 warheads. Britain, which is no longer a member of the European Union, is the only other European nuclear power.
By contrast, the United States and Russia, the world's two main atomic powers, have thousands of nuclear warheads each.
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Macron said eight European countries had agreed to participate in the "advanced" nuclear deterrence scheme proposed by France, including Germany, Britain and Poland.
These countries – also including the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Sweden and Denmark – will be able to host French "strategic air forces", which will be able to "spread out across the European continent" to "complicate the calculations of our adversaries", he said.
The scheme could also involve "the conventional participation of allied forces in our nuclear activities," such as recent military exercises in which British forces were involved, Macron added.
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France and Germany also released a joint statement on Monday to announce the creation of a "nuclear steering group", in an arrangement they said would "add to, not substitute for, NATO's nuclear deterrence".
"France and Germany have agreed to take first concrete steps beginning this year, including German conventional participation in French nuclear exercises and joint visits to strategic sites as well as development of conventional capabilities with European partners," the statement said.
(with newswires)
