Europe plans new ‘nuclear umbrella’ with 300 French missiles spread across continent to defend against Russia

Europe could be preparing to create a nuclear protection umbrella, consisting of 300 French ballistic missiles, to defend itself against Russia, writes The Sun.

French President Macron has suggested that submarine-launched warheads be spread across the continent to bolster collective defence.

His offer came after a German minister urged Britain and France to create a “nuclear shield” to deter Russia.

Leaders in Europe are worried about the effects of a possible victory of Donald Trump in the presidential elections in November.

And nuclear threats are coming from Russia in droves as Putin’s war in Ukraine drags on.

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Macron said he wanted to open discussions on “missile defense, long-range weapons and nuclear weapons” across Europe.

The French leader, who has been incredibly vocal about stepping up defenses in the face of Putin, said we need a “credible European defence”.

In his opinion, the current NATO alliance, led by the US, does not provide enough protection.

France, he says, “is prepared to contribute more to the defense of European territory” independently of America, providing 300 ballistic and cruise missiles.

Trump warned just days ago that he would let Russia do “whatever it wants” with NATO members who do not step up to provide 2% of their GDP for defense.

The United Kingdom and France are Europe’s leading nuclear powers and have independent control over their own significant arsenals of weapons.

New nuclear threats from Moscow

Just over the weekend, one of Putin’s state television propagandists launched a new nuclear threat against the West.

Dmitri Kiseliov warned: “If the NATO countries deploy their forces in Ukraine to strategically defeat Russia, then exactly that moment that Putin spoke of will come. In this case, we will send everything flying everywhere! Sarmat, Iars and Avangard. American land and sea launch sites are already in our sights. France as a nuclear power will have to be disarmed in an instant. We have the technologies to to stay”.

Referring to “American decision centers and launch sites”, Kiseliov was referring to bases in Europe in allied countries, notes The Sun.

Just days ago, Moscow warned that NATO’s nuclear weapons and facilities would be targeted if they were deployed in Poland.

A European defense framework

Macron suggests that France’s nuclear arsenal of submarine-launched ballistic missiles and air-launched cruise missiles be distributed across the continent.

“The French doctrine is that we can use [arme nucleare] when our vital interests are at stake… There is a European dimension to these vital interests.

I am in favor of opening this debate, which therefore must include missile defense, long-range weapons, and nuclear weapons for those who have or have American nuclear weapons on their soil. France will keep its specificity, but it is prepared to contribute more to the defense of European soil”, said the French leader.

“The European pillar of NATO that we are building is essential. But we should build a European defense framework. We must… build a Europe capable of showing that it is never a vassal of the US,” Macron said.

French ballistic missiles

The French Navy has developed a submarine-launched ballistic missile, the M51 SLBM, which is likely the weapon Macron is referring to.

Each missile can carry between six and ten thermonuclear warheads.

Like the formidable Trident, it uses a drag-reducing tip to shoot through the air.

They are 12 meters long and powered by an impressive three-stage rocket.

Their range is estimated to be between 8,000 and 10,000 km.

Macron’s reference to other countries with US nuclear weapons on their soil was likely aimed at Germany, where US warheads are located.

Britain also hosts US nuclear technology, but is no longer part of the European Union (EU).

France, which has its own nuclear strike force, is the only nuclear power in the EU – meaning it has nuclear weapons, not just reactors.

Collective security

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has warned that such a nuclear umbrella could separate Europe from North America.

“NATO has a nuclear deterrent, and it has worked for decades. We should do nothing to undermine that,” Stoltenberg said in February.

But as warnings of war continue to emerge in Europe, leaders are worried about deterrence.

“The strategic nuclear forces of France and Great Britain already contribute to the security of our alliance. The question is: under what political and financial conditions would Paris and London be prepared to maintain or expand their own strategic capabilities for collective security?”, asked the minister of German Finance, Christian Lindner.