France to boost nuke stockpile, unveils 'advanced deterrence' strategy for Europe

[Nuclear missiles in a row and flag of France]
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France will expand its nuclear arsenal and could provide for its deployment to allies as needed, President Emmanuel Macron announced, signaling a major doctrine change for the country.

Macron called for an advanced deterrence approach, which would initially offer partners the opportunity to participate in deterrence exercises.

"This could also involve signaling, including beyond our immediate borders, or the conventional participation of allied forces in our nuclear activities. Finally, it could provide for the deployment, as needed, of strategic force elements to our allies," he added.

The UK, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Sweden, and Denmark will join France in this effort. "Discussions are also underway with several other countries and will continue in the coming weeks and months," Macron said.

France will also stop disclosing the number of nuclear weapons in its arsenal. "To be free, therefore, one must be feared, and to be feared, one must be powerful. This increase in our arsenal is proof of that," Macron declared.

The president said [https://www.elysee.fr/emmanuel-macron/2026/03/02/deplacement-sur-la-base-operationnelle-de-lile-longue] the U.S.' recent defense strategy "demonstrates a rearrangement of American priorities and a strong incentive for Europe to take more direct responsibility for its own security."

As part of this push, France and Germany set up a high-ranking nuclear steering group and will take the first concrete steps towards cooperation this year.

These include German participation in French nuclear exercises (like the UK did in December), joint visits to strategic sites, and development of conventional capabilities with European partners.

This cooperation "will add to, not substitute for, NATO's nuclear deterrence and NATO's nuclear sharing arrangements," the countries announced in a joint statement [https://www.elysee.fr/en/emmanuel-macron/2026/03/02/joint-declaration-of-president-macron-and-chancellor-merz].

France has 290 nuclear weapons, while the UK has 225. Germany does not possess its own nukes, but it hosts 15 U.S. nuclear warheads.

The U.S. and Russia have more than 5,000 nukes each, accounting for about 86% of the world's total stockpile. China has 600 nukes.

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