France to temporarily deploy nuclear‑armed jets to allied nations under new doctrine

PARIS: France will temporarily station nuclear‑armed aircraft in allied European countries and strengthen its deterrence capabilities, President Emmanuel Macron announced Monday.

Speaking at a submarine base in Brittany, Macron described the current period as one of “geopolitical upheaval fraught with risk” and said France must adopt a more robust nuclear strategy.

Under the updated doctrine, French nuclear jets could be deployed to partner nations temporarily, a move Macron referred to as “forward deterrence.” While ultimate authority over any nuclear strike will remain exclusively with the French president, allied countries, including Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, and Denmark, will be invited to participate in joint nuclear exercises.

⚡️BREAKING:

Macron:

'I have ordered an increase in the number of nuclear warheads, and we will no longer disclose the number of nuclear weapons in our arsenal' pic.twitter.com/8FlGx5md4D

— Iran Observer (@IranObserver0) March 2, 2026

France and the United Kingdom remain Europe’s only independent nuclear powers, while most other European nations rely on the United States for deterrence. Shifts in US foreign policy in recent years have spurred some European governments to pursue closer continental cooperation, a development Macron’s new doctrine seeks to address.