BFM TV: French right-wing leaders reject Macron's vision for European nuclear deterrence

In a recent article, BFM TV unveils that leaders of right-wing political parties in France have strongly opposed President Emmanuel Macron’s proposal to establish a pan-European nuclear deterrence force.

"We are absolutely against the idea of sharing the 'red button.' This is about our national sovereignty," said Jordan Bardella, leader of the far-right National Rally party.

His comments were echoed by Marine Le Pen, head of the party's faction in the National Assembly, who emphasised that France’s "red button" should remain solely in French hands.

Laurent Wauquiez, leader of the Republicans party, also expressed his opposition, stating that France should not "share the 'red button'" with other European countries. 

However, the Socialist Party expressed its support for Macron’s vision. "I fully agree with the president's statement," said Olivier Faure, the first secretary of the Socialist Party. Macron’s comments came during a visit to Portugal on February 28, where he reiterated his willingness to engage in discussions with European partners about creating a common European nuclear deterrence force, aimed at strengthening the continent’s defence capabilities.

French President Emmanuel Macron's vision for a European nuclear deterrence force aims to enhance the security of European nations by strengthening their collective defence capabilities. The proposal envisions the creation of a pan-European nuclear deterrence system, allowing EU member states to pool their nuclear resources to safeguard the continent’s security. Macron believes this shared defence would complement NATO’s existing deterrence while increasing Europe’s strategic autonomy. 

By Naila Huseynova