The President of France, Emmanuel Macron, stated this Monday that he will not hesitate to resort to the French nuclear arsenal if the vital interests of the country are threatened, amid the military escalation arising from the conflict with Iran and a global environment he described as particularly unstable.
During a speech at the nuclear submarine base of Île Longue in Brittany, the leader emphasized the need to strengthen French nuclear deterrence “in line with our national and European challenges” in light of what he described as a growing combination of threats. He stressed that France must consider its deterrence strategy “in the depth of the European continent” while fully respecting its sovereignty.
Macron even discussed progressively moving towards what he called "advanced deterrence," considering that Europe is experiencing "a disruptive period full of risks" of which, he stated, citizens are fully aware. According to the president, this stage justifies a tightening of the French strategic model.
In his remarks, he also referred to the war in Ukraine and stated that Russia is waging "a slow and cruel war" against its neighboring country, which, according to the French national strategic review, poses a greater risk to Europe. He further accused Moscow of adopting a revisionist and "brutal imperialism," supported by a vast nuclear arsenal that it continues to develop.
Macron's statements come after the military offensive launched on February 28 by the United States and Israel against more than a thousand strategic targets in Iran, including nuclear and military facilities. Following these bombings and the death of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, Washington opened the debate on a possible political transition process in Tehran.
In response to the offensive, Iran launched missiles and drones against Israel and several Gulf countries. In light of these attacks, France, the United Kingdom, and Germany expressed their willingness to coordinate defensive actions with the United States to limit Iran's ability to strike, as part of the European joint stance in response to the escalation.
Among the confirmed incidents is the impact of an Iranian drone at the British base of Akrotiri in Cyprus, which caused minor material damage. The facility is one of the United Kingdom's strategic enclaves in the Eastern Mediterranean.
From Brussels, the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, warned that the European Union must be prepared for the consequences of the conflict in areas such as energy, security, and migration. She emphasized that the only sustainable solution lies in a diplomatic resolution that includes the halting of Iran's nuclear and ballistic programs, in statements reported by EuroEFE.
The President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, condemned the Iranian attacks against Israel, Cyprus, and several Gulf countries, urging for an end to the escalation and a return to dialogue, according to messages shared on his social media.
European coordination in response to Iranian attacks and the willingness of Paris, Berlin, and London to collaborate with Washington had already been reflected in the joint statement on defensive actions to neutralize Iran's military capabilities in the region.
Filed under: