France to expand nuclear arsenal and allow temporary deployments to allies
Mar 4th 2026
Macron unveiled a new “forward deterrence” posture that lets French nuclear-armed aircraft be temporarily deployed to allied countries, allows allied participation in exercises, and keeps sole authority to use the weapons with the French president.
- President Emmanuel Macron announced France will increase its nuclear warhead stockpile from below 300, the first expansion since at least 1992, without specifying the new total.