# France
Latest news and articles about France
Total: 45 articles found
Macron Proposes “Forward Deterrence,” Seeks European Buy‑In as France Moves to Expand Nuclear Arsenal
President Emmanuel Macron announced a plan to expand France’s nuclear arsenal and launch a “forward deterrence” strategy that tightens nuclear‑related cooperation with eight European partners. Paris will keep exclusive command of its forces while offering temporary, conditional integration—exercises, intelligence sharing and possible short‑term deployments—to strengthen Europe's collective deterrence amid weakened arms control and doubts about U.S. reliability.
Macron Orders an Expansion of France's Nuclear Arsenal and Ends Public Disclosure of Warhead Numbers
President Emmanuel Macron has ordered an increase in France's nuclear warhead inventory and announced that Paris will stop publicly reporting warhead totals. He argued the move is necessary amid rising international tensions, stressed that the decision to use nuclear weapons remains solely with the French head of state, and said eight European countries have shown interest in French extended deterrence proposals.
Macron Proposes Europe‑Wide Nuclear Deterrent as Germany Signs On — A Boost to EU Defence or a New Strategic Faultline?
France has proposed a ‘forward deterrence’ plan that would let French nuclear forces operate from allied European soil, with Germany as a key partner. Paris frames the initiative as complementary to NATO and a hedge against doubts about U.S. reliability, but the move has raised legal, operational and non‑proliferation concerns at home and abroad.
France Says US–Israel Strikes on Iran Lack UN Legitimacy, Warns of Dangerous Drift
France’s foreign minister said on March 2 that military action by the United States and Israel against Iran lacked legitimacy because it had not been reviewed by the UN Security Council. Paris warned that indefinite strikes without clear objectives risk escalating into prolonged regional turmoil and urged a return to multilateral deliberation.
European Tilt: Why Britain and Its Allies Are Quietly Greenlighting US Use of Bases Against Iran
Britain has allowed the United States to use UK bases for "specific and limited" defensive operations in the Gulf, a decision mirrored by a joint UK‑France‑Germany declaration endorsing possible "necessary and proportionate" steps to degrade Iran's missile and drone capabilities. The shift marks a pragmatic European move away from strict legal objections toward supporting allied defensive measures while trying to limit direct military involvement.
Starmer Green‑lights US Access to British Bases as Western Leaders Signal Retaliatory Options Against Iran
Prime Minister Keir Starmer has permitted US forces to use British bases for narrowly defined defensive operations in the Gulf, while insisting the UK did not take part in strikes on Iran. London, Paris and Berlin jointly warned they could take proportionate action to degrade Iran’s missile and drone launch capabilities, signalling European readiness to deter further attacks.
UK, France and Germany Signal Harder Line on Iran, Warning of 'Necessary Defensive Action'
Britain, France and Germany jointly warned they may take “necessary defensive action” related to threats associated with Iran, signalling a coordinated European posture. The statement increases deterrence but risks miscalculation, with implications for regional stability, shipping and European strategic autonomy.
Munich’s Silent Schism: A Quiet Turning Point in Transatlantic Security
The 62nd Munich Security Conference exposed a quieter, deeper rift between the United States and Europe over the distribution of security responsibilities and the future of the Western order. European leaders publicly signalled a push toward greater strategic autonomy even as they remain materially dependent on US security guarantees, while civil society protests underscored domestic opposition to expanded militarisation.
Knife Threat Near Arc de Triomphe Leads to Gendarme Shooting; Anti-Terror Prosecutors Take Over Case
A knife-wielding man threatened a gendarme near the Arc de Triomphe on February 13 and was shot and hospitalized after being subdued by another gendarme. The national anti-terror prosecutor’s office has taken over the investigation, and authorities are probing motive while reassuring the public that no one else was injured.
Paris Proposes 30% China Tariff — Beijing Threatens Targeted Retaliation
A French body has proposed that the EU impose an about 30% tariff specifically on Chinese goods, prompting Beijing to outline at least three retaliatory options including anti-dumping probes into EU (notably French) wine, anti-discrimination investigations, and reciprocal tariffs. The proposal is likely illegal under WTO rules and risks targeted Chinese countermeasures that would hit French exporters and strain EU unity on China policy.
French Authorities Summon Elon Musk After Raid on X’s Paris Office — A Test of Platform Accountability
French authorities have raided X’s Paris office and summoned Elon Musk, with a hearing reportedly scheduled for April. The episode highlights growing European enforcement of online-speech rules and raises fresh questions about platform accountability and the personal liability of tech executives.
France and Italy Clear Key Hurdle for Next‑Generation Air‑Defence System
France and Italy have completed reciprocal live‑fire trials of the jointly developed SAMP/T NG air‑defence system, a key milestone before mass production. The tests validate the system’s basic engagement capabilities and reinforce Franco‑Italian industrial cooperation and European options for indigenous air‑defence capabilities.