Amid rising nuclear threats and uncertainty over United States (US) security guarantees, French president Macron has launched a strategic dialogue on the European role of France’s nuclear deterrent. This e-Note examines the scope and ambition of this initiative, contrasting it with the United Kingdom’s NATO-anchored, US-dependent deterrent. Despite shared interests, deep doctrinal and political differences hinder the emergence of a unified European nuclear posture. Rather than full integration, the author argues instead for pragmatic coordination between the French and British arsenals as a means to bolster European resilience and strategic autonomy during a period of conventional rearmament.
Download e-Note 74Research lines: Defence capabilities and technologies; Europe
e-Note 74
Is a European Extended Deterrence Possible?
Evening conference
The French and British Nuclear Forces in the European Debate