French President Emmanuel Macron is under fire for suggesting deferring French military authority as well as its nuclear arsenal to the European Union.
Le Figaro reported that Macron explained, “I am in favor of opening this debate which must include anti-missile defense, the firing of long-range weapons, nuclear weapons for those who have them or who have American nuclear weapons on their soil.”
He asserted that all defense options should be on the table. Macron said that France “is ready to contribute more to the defense of European soil.”
The president appeared to respond directly to statements by Russian President Vladimir Putin that Moscow was ready to deploy its nuclear arsenal if its sovereignty were threatened.
Macron said its own weapons would “deter the Russians” before stating that nuclear arms would be used “when our vital interests are threatened.”
French politicians were not impressed with the leftist’s words. Center-right leader Francois-Xavier Bellamy flatly declared that “a French head of state should not say that. This is very serious because this touches on the very nerve of French sovereignty.”
Macron ready to 'open debate' on nuclear European defence
➡️ https://t.co/6sPoCxE8Qw pic.twitter.com/KjpplRaGge— FRANCE 24 (@FRANCE24) April 27, 2024
Conservatives were also unhappy with Macron’s suggestion of spreading its national defense to the entirety of the continent.
National Rally MEP Therry Mariani called the president “a national danger…After nuclear weapons, there will follow France’s permanent seat on the U.N. Security Council, which will also be sold off to the European Union.”
Far-left lawmaker Bastien Lachaud posted on X, formerly Twitter, “the nuclear deterrent cannot be shared. Under the guise of defending European soil, Macron wants to liquidate France’s strategic autonomy.”
The U.K.’s departure from the E.U. left France as the only nuclear power in the alliance. This led to encouragement from some globalists to create a continental military unit dedicated to Europe’s defense.
France does not have anywhere near the nuclear arsenals possessed by the U.S. and Russia.
The country possesses approximately 290 nuclear weapons, and its strategy of deterrence is based on the premise that its ability to counterstrike will prevent an attack on French soil.
