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    France to Increase Nuclear Arsenal With US Commitments in Doubt
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    France to Increase Nuclear Arsenal With US Commitments in Doubt

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    1. bloomberg on

      *Ania Nussbaum and Max Ramsay for Bloomberg News*

      President Emmanuel Macron said France will increase its number of nuclear weapons in an effort to bolster Europe’s atomic deterrent as US security commitments to the continent waver.

      “A strengthening of our arsenal is indispensable,” Macron said in a speech at the Ile Longue submarine base in Brittany Monday. He added that the US will play a key role in European defense, but warned that the recent recent rhetoric out of Washington shows that Europe needs to take a bigger role in its own defense.

      The address comes as European governments are tackling the most challenging security environment since the Cold War. Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, now in its fifth year, has shattered assumptions about continental stability. And President Donald Trump has raised questions about America’s commitment to NATO and Europe.

      [Read the full story here.](https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-03-02/france-to-increase-nuclear-arsenal-with-us-commitments-in-doubt?accessToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJzb3VyY2UiOiJTdWJzY3JpYmVyR2lmdGVkQXJ0aWNsZSIsImlhdCI6MTc3MjQ2MjA0MiwiZXhwIjoxNzczMDY2ODQyLCJhcnRpY2xlSWQiOiJUQjlZTkNLR0lGUjEwMCIsImJjb25uZWN0SWQiOiJEMzU0MUJFQjhBQUY0QkUwQkFBOUQzNkI3QjlCRjI4OCJ9.BSNsN3MM3Gff56KmVkOAiZbcY8fVwmbBdIro6nonfjA)

    2. RomanceDawnOP on

      I understand how problematic and unnecessary nuclear buildup is

      But if everyone else (read as major powers) is doing it so should Europe, not least because the psychological component of nuclear deterrent is very important

    3. Willing-Donut6834 on

      Macron has just named the partner countries, which are, if I remember correctly, the UK, Germany, Poland, Belgium, Greece, Sweden and Denmark. All these are now nuclear powers, in a sense. 🇨🇵❤🇪🇺

    5. Caesar171 on

      Like it or not, nukes give you a seat at the table and not having them simply does not. We’ve seen that play out with Iran. You don’t see Trump threatening to invade North Korea.

      As the prime minister of Canada put it, you’re either at the dinner table or on the menu

    7. Batmanbacon on

      In 2026, I am now happy that a country is extending its nuclear arsenal, because they would protect us from the US.

      Fucking hell.

    12. Significant_Swing_76 on

      While good news, it doesn’t change the fact that a French nuclear umbrella is only one election away from disappearing.

    14. tree_boom on

      A good bit more of the speech has been published now. It looks like France mirroring the UKs change of stance from a few years back and increasing it’s stockpile whilst removing the transparency on numbers it used to field. The explicit mention of a restarting of Lithium production – Lithium being a major component in the fusion stage of thermonuclear weapons – implies to me a very large planned increase, as otherwise one would think their existing stocks would be sufficient to return to at least Cold war levels. The coordination with non nuclear allies on conventional support seems like an excellent idea to me, as does coordination with the UKs nuclear forces.

      Slightly disappointed that they have not announced a 5th SSBN, it was always a pipe dream but it would have been fantastic. Also, I am somewhat leery of staying out of NATO Nuclear Planning Group. Whilst I understand the reasoning, I think it’d be better to operate a joint plan, even if that meant a sub-plan that was UK / France only.

    15. TemuBoyfriend on

      How will the french even afford this? The 3rd world they brought in is neither cheap nor prosuctive.

    16. Any-Original-6113 on

      That’s a strong statement. Let’s wait and see what consequences it brings.

    17. Econ_Orc on

      Before Trump and his Greenland nonsense Denmark would not have been part of a nuclear protection program without the US.

    19. pierebean on

      More weapons: increases chances of accident, false alarm, or unauthorized use.
      But less weapons: less deterrence (if deterrence axiom is true)

    24. koinaambachabhihai on

      Dude, why does it look like France is the only country which can read the fucking room.

    25. grumpsaboy on

      Let’s all be completely honest here. It isn’t bolstering Europe’s nuclear deterrence, it’s bolstering France’s.

      No nuclear power will fire a weapon on behalf of someone else. If Berlin is nuked by Russia but only Berlin why would the US, UK or France fire at Russia thereby ensuring Russia nukes them. Until they themselves are hit, they won’t fire and guarantee the destruction of their country.

      If it isn’t your nuclear weapon it’s never protecting you, only being held in a more convenient location for the owner.

    27. gplfalt on

      After Iran and the USA going AWOL Id be surprised if the era we enjoyed of non nuclear proliferation isnt over.