Macron open to stationing French nuclear weapons in other European nations

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French president Emmanuel Macron said he was “ready to open a discussion” with European allies on the development of France nuclear weapons on their lands, in an attempt to strengthen defenses against Russia.

Macron’s comments come in an interview with the broadcaster TF1 on Tuesday as he was holding talks with Germany, Poland and other European countries to explore whether nuclear deterrence in France could be extended on the continent and how.

Such a move is considered in response to signs that US President Donald Trump wants to expand the scope of the American military presence in Europe and force European countries to take more responsibility for their security.

“I will define the frame [for talks about French nuclear weapons] Macron said:

He has set three conditions for expanding nuclear protection in France to European allies: Paris will not pay the price of the security of other countries; Any deployment of nuclear weapons of France cannot be exhausted by its ability to defend itself; Any decision using bombs will only remain in the hands of the French president.

For decades, the United States was eventually guarantor of European security, in large part because it focused on atomic weapons and combat aircraft in the army bases in Europe.

Under a nuclear participation agreement with NATO, nuclear bombs are under the control of the United States, but they were designed to be transported and dropped by the aircraft carried by Belgium, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands and Turkey.

European countries have shocked Trump’s clear preparation to undermine the Atlantic alliance, while also feared that Russia will form a long -term risk to Ukraine and the rest of the continental Europe.

“The moment we live in [in Europe] It is one of the geological waking up, “adding that Europe was built for the first time for peace and linking economies and trade, but” now it is related to power. “

Few in Europe want the United States to withdraw its nuclear guarantees, but the fear is that the leaders of the two strong Atlantic states – German Chancellor Fredchich Mirz and Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk – recently said that preparations for this scenario should begin.

Nuclear weapons arsenal in France is much smaller than those in the United States, so it was unable to provide the same level of security to Europe.

For decades, France said that the “vital interests” that determine the use of atomic weapons “a European dimension”, but Paris has never specified this term, in order to maintain the options of the French president open and any guessing a discount – the key to nuclear deterrence.

For Macron, speaking to European allies about the extension of nuclear protection is an accurate exercise of the decentralization of weapons for France’s defenses and their vision of their sovereignty.

Although the discussions are continuing, it is unlikely to review the nuclear doctrine of France, a French official said earlier this month, but other changes can be made to refer to Paris’s determination to opponents.

European countries are keen to avoid anything that undermines the defense relationship with the United States.

When Mirz visited Paris last week, he and Macron said that any discussions about the expansion of France’s nuclear protection aimed at completing the current NATO framework for security guarantees from the United States.