#France to boost nuclear arsenal and extend deterrence to European allies

[eugenemcparland@mastodon.ie]

#France to boost nuclear arsenal and extend deterrence to European allies

Emmanuel Macron said eight countries could enjoy protection from France's nuclear umbrella but that Paris would retain sole decision-making power.

France to boost nuclear arsenal and extend deterrence to European allies

Emmanuel Macron said eight countries could enjoy protection from France's nuclear umbrella - but that Paris would retain sole decision-making power.

(www.bbc.com)

[backfromthedud@mas.to]

@EugeneMcParland So they want to do exactly what the US has done for 70 years? "Hold this gun. You can't use it to defend yourself unless I say you can!"

[sobex@social.sciences.re]

@BackFromTheDud @EugeneMcParland Well, not in the same way. France will not share any nukes like the US (which are btw, still gravity bombs, not the really useful thing).

But more, here cover me while I shoot at them.

The increase in Arsenal size I think is the real bombshell here. France's ~300 head arsenal was calibrated for France. Extending deterrence at the European scale seemed like it could need more.

(Also, perhaps the new missile and nuclear head require this increase. It used to be that the figure of head per missile on the previous missile generation was 6, now I tend to read 10. But 2 subs with 16 missiles and 10 heads exceed the arsenal size. France has put into service the M51.3 with the TNO-2 this year, perhaps the new warhead and missile allowed them to fit more in there, or they had the space for 10 but not all missile had that, and they decided they add more heads)