Macron suggests possibility of extending France's nuclear umbrella
French President Emmanuel Macron has cautioned that EU states need to be ready in the event that the US is unable to provide assistance. Read Full Article at RT.com
TroibNews 
EU states should prepare for scenarios in which the US may not be able to provide support, warned French President Emmanuel Macron.
Macron announced that France will consider utilizing its nuclear arsenal to safeguard its European allies amid growing apprehensions among NATO members regarding the US's commitment under President Donald Trump.
Recently, Germany’s incoming chancellor, Friedrich Merz, proposed that Britain and France extend their nuclear protection to Germany due to the escalating tensions between Russia and NATO concerning Ukraine. He remarked that these proposals had “always remained unanswered.”
In a speech on Wednesday evening, Macron expressed his willingness to extend France’s nuclear umbrella, stating, “In response to the historic appeal by the future German chancellor, I have decided to open a strategic debate on protecting our allies on the European continent through a nuclear deterrent,” as reported by RFI.
He acknowledged that people in France are “legitimately worried” about the “new era” under Trump, adding, “I want to believe that the United States will stay by our side, but we have to be prepared for that not to be the case.”
Trump, whose election campaign was centered around an 'America first' philosophy, has insisted that European allies must increase their defense spending. He has further distanced himself from several NATO allies by withholding unconditional support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, opting instead for direct dialogue with Moscow.
This shift in American policy under Trump, in contrast to the approach of former President Joe Biden, has led European allies to reassess their reliance on the US for defense. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized this uncertainty in a letter to EU member states, stating, “Europe faces a clear and present danger on a scale that none of us has seen in our adult lifetime.”
Trump has highlighted his primary goal as achieving a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine to prevent a broader conflict that could escalate to a nuclear confrontation. During a tense exchange in the Oval Office, he criticized Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky for “gambling with World War III.”
In reaction to NATO's actions, Russia has accused the alliance of provocative behavior, asserting that the supply of Western weapons to Ukraine heightens the risk of serious escalation. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov articulated last year, “We believe that nuclear weapons are the instruments of deterring and preventing a nuclear war. That is how we approach this issue. We will do everything to avoid a confrontation.”
James del Carmen contributed to this report for TROIB News
Macron announced that France will consider utilizing its nuclear arsenal to safeguard its European allies amid growing apprehensions among NATO members regarding the US's commitment under President Donald Trump.
Recently, Germany’s incoming chancellor, Friedrich Merz, proposed that Britain and France extend their nuclear protection to Germany due to the escalating tensions between Russia and NATO concerning Ukraine. He remarked that these proposals had “always remained unanswered.”
In a speech on Wednesday evening, Macron expressed his willingness to extend France’s nuclear umbrella, stating, “In response to the historic appeal by the future German chancellor, I have decided to open a strategic debate on protecting our allies on the European continent through a nuclear deterrent,” as reported by RFI.
He acknowledged that people in France are “legitimately worried” about the “new era” under Trump, adding, “I want to believe that the United States will stay by our side, but we have to be prepared for that not to be the case.”
Trump, whose election campaign was centered around an 'America first' philosophy, has insisted that European allies must increase their defense spending. He has further distanced himself from several NATO allies by withholding unconditional support for Ukraine in its conflict with Russia, opting instead for direct dialogue with Moscow.
This shift in American policy under Trump, in contrast to the approach of former President Joe Biden, has led European allies to reassess their reliance on the US for defense. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen emphasized this uncertainty in a letter to EU member states, stating, “Europe faces a clear and present danger on a scale that none of us has seen in our adult lifetime.”
Trump has highlighted his primary goal as achieving a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine to prevent a broader conflict that could escalate to a nuclear confrontation. During a tense exchange in the Oval Office, he criticized Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky for “gambling with World War III.”
In reaction to NATO's actions, Russia has accused the alliance of provocative behavior, asserting that the supply of Western weapons to Ukraine heightens the risk of serious escalation. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov articulated last year, “We believe that nuclear weapons are the instruments of deterring and preventing a nuclear war. That is how we approach this issue. We will do everything to avoid a confrontation.”
James del Carmen contributed to this report for TROIB News
