French President Macron has announced that France will increase its nuclear arsenal at a speech today at the naval port hosting French nuclear armed submarines. He also said the new French nuclear doctrine could “provide for the temporary deployment of elements of our strategic air forces to allied countries,” though affirmed that control over the weapons would remain in French hands.
In a joint declaration issued today, President Macron and Chancellor Merz have agreed to increase French-German cooperation, including “German conventional participation in French nuclear exercises and joint visits to strategic sites” and “consultations regarding the appropriate mix of conventional, missile defence and French nuclear capabilities.” The same document reiterates existing NATO language on nuclear weapons, and commitments to the NPT (though does not, notably, commit them to the aim of nuclear disarmament, even with conditions).
As nuclear-armed states cite nuclear threats to justify attacks on non-nuclear countries, and European leaders talk about expanding nuclear “deterrence”, ICAN warns that none of this makes us safer.
ICAN’s Executive Director, Melissa Parke said “Every additional nuclear weapon in the world and every additional country where they are deployed increases the risk that they will be used. These are indiscriminate weapons that are banned under the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons. This announcement from French President Macron is a direct threat to the peace and security of the region, and the world. France already spent $6 billion on its nuclear weapons in 2024 and it is unclear how much this unexpected increase will add to that exorbitant sum. This is not progress, it’s a nuclear arms race that no one can afford.”
ICAN has long warned that nuclear deterrence is not a guarantee of peace. It is a permanent gamble – one that pushes countries into escalation and keeps the world one miscalculation away from catastrophe. In a pre-speech document released to the press, France indicated that a “nuclear strike could be carried out as a warning”, one which would demonstrate a clear failure of nuclear deterrence.
Expanded nuclear cooperation talks have started with Britain, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Sweden and Denmark, Macron said. These countries are all members of the nuclear Non Proliferation Treaty, which prohibits states from transferring nuclear weapons, or control over nuclear weapons to others.
In the statement, President Macron also indicated that France would no longer be disclosing details about its nuclear arsenal. While transparency is not a substitute for disarmament, it is a risk reduction and confidence building measure that can help reduce the chance of accidental nuclear launches.
Most countries in the world have rejected nuclear deterrence as a flawed concept, and have instead joined the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW). The TPNW bans nuclear weapons and all related activities, and provides a pathway under international law to eliminate them.
