Europe Likes, Russia Angry About French Nuclear

MOSCOW, FRIDAY - Russia is deeply angered by the proposal of French President Emmanuel Macron. On the other hand, some members of the European Union favor Macron's offer regarding nuclear weapon protection for Europe.

Russia referred to Macron as suffering from a Napoleon delusion. The term alludes to Emperor Napoleon, who led France in subjugating several kingdoms in Europe during the 19th century. However, those forces failed to conquer Russia in 1812.

"Some people still cannot accept it. Some want to return to the era of Napoleon. However, they forget how it ended," said Russian President Vladimir Putin, Thursday evening (6/3/2025) Moscow time or early Friday morning Western Indonesia Time (WIB).

The US, our ally, has changed its position in this war, less supportive of Ukraine and doubting what will happen next.

He used a term commonly employed to refer to nuclear weapons. According to data from The Federation of American Scientists (FAS), which monitors nuclear weapon stockpiles of various countries, France possesses at least 290 nuclear warheads.

Up to 80 percent of France's nuclear warheads are installed on nuclear-powered submarines. The remainder is ready to be launched from land-based silos or long-range bombers. "Nuclear deterrence protects us, our integrity, our sovereignty, France. It protects us more than many of our neighbors," Macron continued.

The statement was made regarding the shift in the United States' stance on the Ukraine war and its military alliance with Europe. Under Donald Trump, the U.S. tended to lean toward ending support for Ukraine in facing Russian occupation. The U.S. also once again expressed reluctance to provide a military umbrella for Europe.

"America, our ally, has shifted its position in this war, showing less support for Ukraine and doubting what will happen next. I want to believe that the United States remains on our side. However, we need to be prepared if that does not happen," Macron continued.

Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov called Macron's remarks extremely hostile, saying Paris seemed to be considering war.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that Macron's statement threatened Russia. "If he considers us a threat and asks for a meeting of the European and British (military) chiefs of staff, mentions the need to use nuclear weapons against Russia, this is clearly a threat," he said.

He also called Macron worse than Napoleon and Adolf Hitler. “Unlike their predecessors, who also wanted to fight Russia, Napoleon, Hitler, Mr. Macron did not act very gracefully, because at least they said it bluntly: ‘We must conquer Russia, we must defeat Russia,’” Lavrov continued.

Head of the Russian Bureau of Political and Military Analysis Alexander Mikhailov doubts that France can provide a nuclear umbrella for Europe. "France has the most powerful military industry in Europe. It produces a variety of weapons, from small arms to missiles for submarines. However, it is important to understand that, while it is part of NATO, France does not even have the authority to manage its nuclear weapons stockpile without coordination with Washington," he said.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said Macron may want help in measuring his true military strength. Macron's speech was considered to contain "a note of nuclear blackmail" and was a threat directed at Russia.

“Paris’ ambition to become the nuclear ‘protector’ of all of Europe has come to the fore by providing its own ‘nuclear umbrella’, almost to replace the American one. Clearly, this will not strengthen the security of France itself or its allies,” he said.

Meanwhile, some European leaders like Macron's ideas. Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said EU members need to discuss Macron's ideas. "All good ideas need to be part of our discussion," she said.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk also said the idea should be given serious consideration by the EU and NATO. "Details are important, but the will of France in this matter is the most important," he said.

Poland became a major transit point for arms and aid shipments to Ukraine. When Napoleon invaded Russia in 1812, 100,000 Polish soldiers assisted the French.

Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa, meanwhile, called Macron’s proposal an opportunity for negotiation, but said it would take time to discuss the idea at the national and regional levels.

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda called Macron's proposal a very interesting idea. "We have high hopes because the nuclear umbrella will be a serious deterrent to Russia," he said.

German Chancellor-designate Friedrich Merz had already proposed a French nuclear umbrella for the EU. Germany now hosts some of the US's nuclear missiles, part of NATO's European defense system.

Russia and the US are the world's largest nuclear powers, each with more than 5,000 nuclear warheads. China has about 500 nuclear warheads, France has 290 nuclear warheads, and the UK has 225 nuclear warheads.

For decades, Europe’s main nuclear weapons came from the United States, a symbol of transatlantic solidarity. The United States has nuclear weapons in Europe and has tens of thousands of troops stationed at bases on the continent. Plus, the United States provides some military capabilities that Europe cannot match, such as aerial refueling.

The nuclear deterrence agreement is enshrined in Article V of NATO’s collective defense treaty. It has been reinforced over decades by U.S. politicians. But the assurance that nuclear weapons are a core part of the alliance’s deterrence strategy is not legally binding.

France is the only nuclear-armed country in the European Union. The world's fourth-largest nuclear power spends about 5.6 billion euros (or Rp98.92 trillion) annually on maintaining its stockpile of 290 submarine- and air-launched nuclear weapons.

France spends about 15 percent of its annual defense budget on modernizing its nuclear capabilities. Unlike Britain, whose technology is said to rely on the US, France's nuclear weapons operate independently.

France's nuclear doctrine is defensive. That is, the weapons are designed to deter potential aggressors while carrying a strong threat and protecting the country's vital interests. As such, France's nuclear weapons will only be used in extreme self-defense situations. The deployment of nuclear weapons abroad is prohibited.

Like previous French presidents, Macron has rejected the idea of placing France’s nuclear deterrent under the command of the EU or NATO. He reiterated that position in a speech on Wednesday.

Unlike the US, France has not offered a long-term commitment to deter or respond to nuclear or non-nuclear threats against allies in order to defend them. France also has only a fraction of the airborne nuclear weapons that the US does.

Any upgrade to the nuclear system would be costly and require significant logistical and operational changes, and the government is already financially burdened.

According to experts, it would take France up to a decade to upgrade its arsenal by just 100 warheads. “In the current environment, French and British nuclear forces are a complement to the US long-term deterrence, but they would not be a viable solution in the event of a sudden withdrawal of US nuclear forces. France and Britain do not provide the extended deterrence guarantee that the US does in NATO,” the CSIS Washington statement said.

So far, there has been no proposal to replace the US nuclear infrastructure altogether. Analysts say allies could be integrated into French nuclear exercises and training by providing air cover and developing supply and logistical support. This aims to create a level of interoperability. (AP/AFP/REUTERS)