European leaders on Thursday responded cautiously but receptively to President Emmanuel Macron’s proposal to debate extending the French nuclear umbrella to Europe.
Some leaders, however, were reluctant to abandon decades of US protection.
In an address to the nation on Wednesday, Macron announced that he would initiate a strategic dialogue on extending the protection offered by France’s nuclear arsenal to its European partners, seizing on comments from Germany’s future leader, Friedrich Merz.
Although both France and Britain are nuclear powers, most European countries rely primarily on the United States for nuclear deterrence—a long-standing symbol of transatlantic solidarity.
However, the radical shift in US foreign policy under President Donald Trump has raised concerns. His administration has made overtures to Russia, pressured Ukraine to reach a peace settlement with Moscow, and adopted a more confrontational stance towards traditional allies.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson acknowledged the complexities of nuclear strategy, stating that most people, including his citizens, prefer to have as few nuclear weapons as possible.
“Right now, we should be happy and grateful that there are two neighbouring countries that have nuclear weapons. So I think it is good that France is showing openness,” he said.
Similarly, Denmark—once a staunch US ally but recently unsettled by Trump’s thinly veiled threats to take over Greenland, a Danish territory—appeared open to discussions.
“I think we have to discuss everything now, so all good ideas on the table must be part of our discussion,” said Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen.
Some Baltic nations, fearful that they could be Russia’s next targets if Moscow prevails in Ukraine, also expressed interest in the proposal.
“I think it’s a very interesting idea. A nuclear umbrella would serve as a serious deterrent against Russia,” said Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda.
When Macron first floated the idea of incorporating Europe into France’s nuclear deterrence strategy in 2020, the response from his EU partners was lukewarm.
However, five weeks into Trump’s presidency, sentiment appears to have shifted, with the clearest sign coming from Germany. Merz has indicated that Berlin may need to become less reliant on the US nuclear umbrella.