French far-right figurehead opposes pooling France's nuclear deterrent for European defence

Marine Le Pen, leader of France's far-right National Rally, has firmly opposed proposals to pool France’s nuclear warheads to help protect Europe.

Speaking at the Salon de l’Agriculture farming exhibition in Paris on March 1, Le Pen strongly rejected plans for a more integrated European defense system, including sharing France’s nuclear umbrella, which has gained traction amid rising tensions over U.S. President Donald Trump’s growing alignment with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Caliber.Az reports citing foreign media.

“French defense must remain French defense,” Le Pen declared. “The French nuclear deterrent must remain a French nuclear deterrent. It must not be shared, let alone delegated.”

Le Pen’s comments come as European leaders scramble to respond to President Trump’s diminishing commitment to European security, which has relied on American protection since the end of World War II. Trump’s criticism of NATO, his attacks on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and his threats to withdraw American troops from Europe have left many European leaders seeking alternatives to the U.S. military umbrella.

The French National Assembly is set to debate and vote on European security and the situation in Ukraine on March 3. While the vote is non-binding, it could influence defense-related bills, including the military budget. Le Pen’s National Rally, which holds roughly a third of the seats in the National Assembly, could have significant sway on any decisions regarding military spending.

French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu weighed in on the debate, clarifying that President Emmanuel Macron’s suggestion of using France’s nuclear force to protect European interests did not mean surrendering control over the country’s arsenal. Macron has long advocated for a more independent French defense, a stance rooted in the legacy of General Charles de Gaulle, the founder of the Fifth Republic.

Le Pen also sought to position herself as a defender of de Gaulle’s legacy, criticizing Europe’s perceived powerlessness amid the chaotic dynamics between Washington and Moscow.

Referring to Trump’s recent browbeating of Zelenskyy, Le Pen stated, “What does yesterday's conversation actually show? It is that the Americans decide whether to end or continue the war. And that, for European nations, is a considerable slap in the face. It is an absolutely major diplomatic failure, a loss of influence that is now obvious to everyone.”

Unlike Macron, who has proposed a more integrated European defense, Le Pen argued that more European unity was not the solution. “As usual, the European Union is using a crisis to get itself additional powers,” she said. “I can see that they would like this conflict to continue, so that they can take over responsibility for defense. I don't accept this.”

By Khagan Isayev