The political scientist assessed the prospects of France's nuclear initiative

Political scientist Ermakov: Paris will not be able to replace Washington's nuclear umbrella

Sat, 05/30/2026 - 01:00

Photo: TASS/EPA/YOAN VALAT/POOL

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The French nuclear deterrence initiative does not involve the deployment of nuclear weapons in the countries that have joined it. The proposal by French President Emmanuel Macron, as Alexander Ermakov, a junior researcher at the IMEMO RAS Center for International Security, noted in an interview with Izvestia on May 30, is not about that.

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"As for the fact that these states plan to take part in French nuclear exercises, they will be invited to minimal familiarization with French practices and planning in this area. In the future, this should lead to a closer integration of the armed forces and the readiness of the allies to participate in the provision of French nuclear missions," the expert explained.

Hypothetically, in his opinion, this could lead, among other things, to the readiness to deploy French aircraft with cruise missiles at Allied airfields in the event of a threat. But there is absolutely no question of transferring nuclear weapons and preparing allies for their use, the expert stressed.

"So even according to the maximum plans, the French expanded nuclear deterrence, or as they call it "advanced", will not "expand" to the level of the American—centric NATO Nuclear Sharing mission," the analyst pointed out.

According to the interlocutor of the editorial board, the French, if you do not pay attention to Macron's rhetoric, which "is rather a reflection of his personal international political ambitions," are very cautious and not completely confident in approaching not only to displace and replace the Americans, but to create a more modest addition to them.

"In order to achieve a more complete, as the French president likes to say, "strategic autonomy of Europe," European countries must be ready for much greater integration, be much bolder and more determined, and European elites are completely deprived of these "shortcomings," which is probably for the best for everyone," the political scientist concluded.