“That may mean deploying anti-missile shields, but we have to be sure that they will block all missiles and that they will deter the use of nuclear”

French President Emmanuel Macron declares himself ready to “open the debate” on a European defense that includes nuclear weapons, in an interview with young Europeans, published on Saturday evening by newspapers from the Ebra group, reports AFP, quoted by News.ro.

“I am in favor of opening this debate, which must therefore include anti-missile defense, long-range weapon fire, the nuclear weapon in the case of those who have it or have on their territory the American nuclear weapon”, declares the French head of state.

“Let’s put everything on the table and see what really credibly defends us,” he declares.

France will keep its specificity, but is prepared to contribute more to the defense of European territory”, he adds.

Following Brexit and Great Britain’s exit from the European Union, France is the only one of the EU member states that has nuclear deterrence.

In his speech on Europe, which he gave on Thursday at the Sorbonne, the French president pleaded in favor of a “strong Europe” and the establishment of a “credible” Defense Europe, alongside NATO and against Russia, which became far too threatening after invaded Ukraine in February 2022.

“This may mean the deployment of some anti-missile shields, but we must be sure that they will block all missiles and that they will discourage the use of nuclear weapons,” declared Emmanuel Macron in this interview published on Saturday by the newspapers of eastern France.

This interview was conducted on Friday, during a visit to Strasbourg.

“Being capable also means having long-range missiles to deter the Russians. And there is the nuclear weapon. The French doctrine is that we can use it when our vital interests are threatened,” he declared.

“I have already said that there is a European dimension in these vital interests, without elaborating on them, because this deterrence would compete with the credibility of European defense”, he states.

Building a Defense Europe has long been an objective of France, which has often faced the reluctance of its partners, who consider the NATO “umbrella” safer.

But the invasion of Ukraine and the possibility of Donald Trump’s return to the White House have relaunched the debate on defense autonomy.