“To be free, one must instill fear,” such is Macron's doctrine 0 40

Emmanuel Macron presented an updated French nuclear doctrine. To this end, the President of France spoke at the Île-Long nuclear submarine base, located in the northwest of the country, near Brest. The head of the French state, pointing to Russia's aggressive actions as well as the growing nuclear arsenals of the United States and China, announced that he had ordered "to increase the number of warheads."

He noted that France, in order to be more unpredictable in the eyes of potential aggressors, will henceforth "not disclose the numbers" of its nuclear arsenal. Additionally, Macron announced a new concept called "advanced deterrence," which will apply not only to France but also to other countries in Europe. According to him, eight European countries have already agreed to cooperate with Paris in this area. This cooperation does not replace but complements the U.S. "nuclear umbrella" for European countries within NATO. By the way, France has not needed this umbrella since it became a nuclear power under de Gaulle...

The speech took place in a solemn setting: the podium was set up in front of one of the four French strategic submarines...

Context
According to French tradition, the head of state must deliver a speech on nuclear doctrine once during their presidential term. Emmanuel Macron last did this in February 2020 — by the way, still in the midst of the rapprochement with Russia that he initiated shortly after coming to power in 2017.

Among other things, the head of the French state stated six years ago: "There can be no defense and security project for European citizens without a political vision aimed at gradually restoring trust with Russia"; "we," Europeans, "cannot be satisfied with the current situation, where (...) dialogue is impoverished, while security issues that need to be addressed with Moscow, on the contrary, are multiplying."

At the same time, Macron did note back then that he expected Moscow to become a constructive participant in our common security.

Instead, as is known, Putin unleashed a full-scale war against Ukraine — the bloodiest in Europe since World War II.

Therefore, at the Élysée Palace before today's speech, it was particularly emphasized that despite the "planned" nature of the form, it would be programmatic, and its content was dictated primarily by actions and threats from Russia.

"We have seen how Moscow develops new types of weapons, including the 'Hazelnut'... We have observed Russia's claims to place nuclear weapons in space...," emphasized a high-ranking representative of the Élysée Palace, dealing with defense issues, before this speech.

"Russia has been waging a war of aggression against Ukraine for more than four years. A war that has always been overshadowed by a nuclear shadow...," this source also reminded. Adding that in the fall of 2022, Moscow seriously considered the use of tactical nuclear weapons against the backdrop of the large-scale retreat of the Russian army in Ukraine.

What Macron said
The President began his speech by recalling the long history of French nuclear deterrence, the foundations of which were laid by General de Gaulle. The Île-Long base was key in this regard then and remains so today, noted the current head of the French state.

"In a few days, the nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine Le Téméraire (French for 'The Bold') that is before you will go to sea. It will disappear in complete secrecy and will fully fulfill its role as the last guardian of our freedom of action, our independence from the depths of the sea," Macron emphasized.

"Our (nuclear) deterrence is reliable and effective. Anyone who would dare to encroach on France knows what an unbearable price it would entail for them. But immutability does not mean immobility.

Six years ago, in February 2020, faithful to republican traditions, I laid out the foundations of our nuclear doctrine and its place in the world. The past six years for France and Europe weigh like decades. And the last months — like years. (...) The world is becoming harsher, and the last hours have shown this again. Therefore, with great seriousness, I announce today to the nation an evolution that corresponds to the scale of our national and European challenges. We must strengthen our nuclear deterrence in the face of a multitude of threats and think about our deterrence strategy deep within the European continent, with full respect for our sovereignty," the president continued.

According to him, the risk of nuclear confrontation is increasing due to the growing activity of nuclear-armed powers, states seeking to acquire it or potentially possessing it, as well as due to "Russia's irresponsible behavior."

"Russia is waging a protracted and brutal war on neighboring Ukraine, which, as noted in our National Strategic Review (the latest version, which anticipates the risk of a major war in the center of the European Union, was published in July 2025), poses a serious threat to our Europe.

This same Russia openly demonstrates revisionism and crude imperialism and, already possessing an excessive nuclear arsenal, continues to develop new weapons: hypersonic nuclear missiles, others with nuclear propulsion systems designed to fly without restrictions, nuclear torpedoes, and even a particularly dangerous project for humanity to place nuclear weapons in space," emphasized the head of the French state.

A little later, he mentioned the Russian threat once again:

"Have we not observed Russia's irresponsible behavior, in particular the change in its (nuclear) doctrine (in the fall of 2024), specifically tailored to threaten Ukraine, the banalization of rhetoric surrounding nuclear weapons, officials throwing reckless threats, dual-use missile launches, such as 'Hazelnut,' near European borders?"

"China, for its part, is rapidly catching up with the U.S. Today, it produces more weapons than any other country. (...) No one knows what the direct or indirect consequences, nuclear or otherwise, of a conflict that may break out in the Far East or anywhere else would be; in any case, they could not remain without consequences for us," continued the President of France.

He added that "in Asia, the arsenals and strategic forces of other nuclear powers, such as India, Pakistan, and North Korea, are actively expanding." "To this, we must add the ongoing war in the Middle East, which brings and will bring instability and possible ignition at our borders, with Iran possessing nuclear and ballistic capabilities that have not yet been destroyed."

"Moreover, we can no longer consider threats in isolation, as new links have emerged between them. What is the cost of massive support for North Korea's aggressive war? What are the consequences of the alliance treaty between the two countries?

What can be said about the extreme dependence that Russia has placed itself in relation to China? All of this we must take into account," Macron emphasized.

"To this, we must add the ongoing war in the Middle East, which brings and will continue to bring its share of instability and possible flare-ups at our borders, with Iran possessing nuclear and ballistic capabilities that have not yet been destroyed."

"As for our American allies, who are themselves modernizing their arsenal, they have played and will continue to play a key role in the defense of Europe since 1945," Macron emphasized. "We are grateful to them for this, and in the area of deterrence, they are directly involved in our defense through NATO's nuclear mission (When he says 'our,' the President of France, the only nuclear power in the EU, primarily means other European countries). However, their recent national security and defense strategy indicates a redistribution of American priorities and a pressing call for Europe to take more direct responsibility for its own security. We must heed this call..."

Macron then stated the need to develop conventional weapons: including air defense systems and medium-range missiles — against the backdrop of new threats.

Because "nuclear powers, such as France, must (be prepared) for the possibility of major conflicts below the nuclear threshold in their immediate surroundings."

"Have we not seen in recent months salvos of missiles falling on nuclear powers or states (potentially possessing nuclear weapons)? Europe may one day find itself in a similar situation.

To manage such a situation before it crosses the nuclear threshold, specific capabilities are needed: early warning to detect threats, expanded air defense to protect against them, deep strikes to counter and conduct offensive actions," Macron explained, pointing to the "glaring lack" of such "supporting means" in Europe. And calling such a situation "unacceptable."

"All of this shows that nuclear threats are intensifying, diversifying, becoming more interconnected, that they may be preceded by episodes of intense conflicts below (the nuclear threshold) and that the defensive systems of our potential adversaries are being strengthened. We must draw conclusions from this," summarized the French leader.

And he announced a large-scale modernization of the country's strategic forces.

"The construction of our future strategic submarines has begun. Those that have valiantly ensured a constant presence at sea since 1972 will give way to the third generation. Here, at Île-Long. (...) Only a few nations in the world are capable of building such nuclear submarines — unparalleled technological achievements, as stealthy as they are effective, capable of striking potential aggressors at any point. In accordance with the tradition of 'christening' our submarines, today I have the honor to announce that the future French strategic missile submarine will be called 'L’Invincible' (French for 'The Invincible') and will go to sea in 2036," Macron said.

Noting that the current submarines are equipped with the new M51.3 missile system with upgraded warheads. Additionally, this year an "ambitious program for strategic hypersonic maneuvering missiles" for aircraft and the next aircraft carrier will be launched.

"Our national 'Tritium' program has been strengthened, ensuring our ability to continue producing nuclear weapons in complete independence and self-sufficiency," the French commander-in-chief also added, finishing listing the country's achievements in nuclear weapon development.

After this, he noted that despite all of the above, "increasing the level of our arsenal is necessary."

He emphasized: "This is not about entering into any arms race. It is pointless to claim participation in a costly rivalry. The main thing, as I have already said, is that no opponent or group of opponents can even assume the possibility of striking France without being certain that they will suffer damage from which they will not recover. For this, symmetry of arsenals is not required...," said the President of France, which currently possesses "approximately 290" nuclear warheads, as assured by a source from RFI at the Élysée Palace before the President's speech.

And this is several times less than that of the U.S., Russia, and China.

"I have ordered an increase in the number of nuclear warheads in our arsenal. To put an end to all speculation, we will no longer disclose the exact numbers of our nuclear arsenal, unlike past practice," Macron announced.

"To be free, one must instill fear, and to instill fear, one must be strong. This increase in our arsenal is a confirmation of that," assured the French leader.

He warned a little earlier: "If we have to use our arsenal, no state, however powerful it may be, will be able to avoid a retaliatory strike. No one, however great it may be, will recover from it." And noting that the one submarine standing behind him "carries strike power equivalent to the sum of all bombs dropped on Europe during World War II."

And "this is almost a thousand times more powerful than the first nuclear bombs."

In the second part of his speech, Macron paid special attention to European allies, noting that France's security has never been limited to its territory, and in today's alarming context — even more so.

He reminded of the special relationship between Paris and London in the field of nuclear deterrence. The latest step in the chain: in July 2025, the President of France and the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom signed the so-called Northwood Declaration, "for the first time officially confirming the coordination of the nuclear deterrence forces" of the two countries.

He added: "But our ambitions must be broader, as the security of the entire continent is at stake (...). Contacts have been established with the first group of allies, primarily with our key partner — Germany. They responded positively to France's proposal."

Following this, Macron announced: "Today a new phase of French deterrence can be implemented. We are embarking on what I call 'advanced deterrence.'"

He explained: "Advanced deterrence is a phased process. It provides for the possibility of partners participating in exercises with (French) deterrent forces. This may include demonstration measures, including beyond our borders, the participation of allied conventional forces in our nuclear activities, and, under certain circumstances, the deployment of elements of (French) strategic forces with allies.

Just as our strategic submarines dissolve in the oceans, ensuring a constant strike capability, our strategic air forces will be able to disperse deep within the European continent. Such dispersion — a kind of archipelago of forces — will complicate the calculations of the adversary and give advanced deterrence significant value. It will strengthen our defense, giving it the strategic depth commensurate with the security challenges of Europe.

I believe its value will be very high for partners (...), whose territory will gain a confirmed connection with our deterrence."

Among the first partners who agreed to such cooperation, he named the United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Sweden, and Denmark.

He added: "Negotiations are also open with a number of other countries and will continue in the coming weeks and months."

"The chain of command is absolutely transparent, and the final decision" on the use of nuclear weapons "belongs solely to the President of the Republic," Emmanuel Macron reiterated, considering the regularly expressed "concerns" in the French political environment (primarily among the far-right and far-left) about France potentially "sharing" both nuclear weapons and the possibility of their use with European allies.

"I want to say this right away: there will be no division of the final decision, its planning, or implementation," assured Emmanuel Macron. "According to our Constitution, this right belongs solely to the President of the Republic, who is accountable to the French people. Therefore, there will be no division in defining vital interests, which will remain the subject of our country's sovereign decision."