The French president Emmanuel Macron has announced plans to increase the number of warheads in France’s nuclear arsenal. The plan involves close cooperation with 8 other European countries, including Belgium. The Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever (Flemish nationalist) has welcomed President Marcron’s initiative and confirmed that Belgium is prepared to “work closely with France on a credible and strengthened deterrent”.
President Macron says that expanding France’s nuclear arsenal is necessary now that the international arms control structure has been radically weakened. The French President wouldn’t not to specify a target number of warheads, adding that France will no longer communicate the exact size of its nuclear arsenal in the future.
He also indicated that 8 countries, including Belgium, have already agreed to cooperate closely with France in what is described as an advance deterrence. These countries could host French strategic air force units in the future. The cooperation may also result in joint exercises and “signalling”, whereby France demonstrates its nuclear capabilities outside its own borders.
Writing on the social media site X, the Belgian prime minister Bart De Wever welcomed President Macron's initiative as an “important step towards a stronger European defence policy. We are prepared to respond constructively and to work closely with France on a credible and strengthened deterrent”.
The ad hoc collaboration agreement that does not require any concrete investments was discussed and given the green light by the Federal Government last week. For Belgium, the agreement provides additional know-how and extra protection under the French nuclear umbrella. The Federal Government says that broad, regionally distributed cooperation also makes that umbrella more credible.
During Monday’s speech President Macron stressed that despite the cooperation agreement the final decision on the use of French nuclear weapons remains unconditionally and exclusively in the hands of the French Head of State.