French President Emmanuel Macron announced on March 2 that France will expand its nuclear warhead stockpile beyond the current ceiling of fewer than 300—the first increase since at least 1992—and allow the temporary deployment of its nuclear-armed aircraft to allied countries. AP reports that talks on such arrangements have already begun with Britain, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Sweden, and Denmark.
Macron stressed that sole authority over the weapons would remain with the French President. “To be free, one needs to be feared,” he said at L'Île-Longue submarine base. In a joint statement, Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz announced that Germany would participate in French nuclear exercises this year, which is a significant escalation.
