In the middle of the storm, France has a large nuclear umbrella. Macron wants to house us with him

Macron divides opinions in France: Strategically widening your ability to defend Europe with Europe, or can it bring advantages? So far, Europe didn’t even want French protection. But now everything has changed, and there is a new “threat.”

On Wednesday, President Emmanuel Macron launched the idea that France’s “Detursement Force” (“Force de Frappe”) could be extended to other European countries.

As it cites, the French president described Russia as a “threat For France and Europe ”, and knows that France has unparalleled power in Europe: 290 Nuclear Wolvesready to be detonated.

When compared to Russian’s arms capacity (5889 of this type) or US (5244), they may seem little, but the only European power that reaches his heels is the United Kingdom, with 225. The problem: the United Kingdom depends on the US to detonate them, and France does not: Your arsenal is sovereign.

The foundations of this strategic independence were actually released in the 1960s by Charles de Gaulle.

But now Macron suggests (and wants to schedule this discussion with European partners) to extend nuclear protection to Europe, “housing us” in its powerful “umbrella.”

“I want to believe that the United States will be on our side, but we have to be prepared so that this is not the case,” he said directly. “The future of Europe has not to be decided in Washington or Moscow.”

The far right and the left of the country was not happy. According to advances, internal criticism says that It is wrong to “share” the nuclear arsenal French.

On the other hand, government members claim that “sharing” is not the right word: the nuclear deterrent device “It’s French and will continue to befrom its conception, going through its production, to its exploitation, by decision of the president, ”says Defense Minister Sébastien Leconnu. Yes, it is a strategic alignment com a Europa.

“In the past, when France made proposals to extend nuclear protection, the other countries were reluctant to respond“Says analyst Pierre Haroche. “They didn’t want to send the sign that they had no complete confidence in the United States and the NATO. Now it is the countries to ask, at a time when Europe is in their self-protection.

“The credibility of the US nuclear deterrent is no longer what it was. This opened the debate and took the Germans to see more welcome The idea of ​​being under a French and/or British umbrella. ”

“If the United States is less present, European countries will depend much more on each other. Our strategic world becomes more horizontal, ”he says. “In this new world, it is important to create confidence and security between us. The fact that France gives signs that is prepared to take risks In support of others it helps to create a solid front. ”