PARIS (AP) 鈥� French President Emmanuel Macron delivered a keynote speech Monday on , as his European allies express growing concerns over possible and .
France is the European Union鈥檚 and its deterrence doctrine relies on a strictly defensive strategy intended to safeguard the country鈥檚 鈥渧ital interests.鈥� Macron has long maintained that those 鈥渧ital interests鈥� have
On Monday, he announced a strengthening of France’s nuclear arsenal and a major shift of the country’s deterrence doctrine, allowing France for first time to temporarily deploy its nuclear-armed aircraft to European allies.
While France is a member of NATO, it maintains full independence over its nuclear forces while contributing to the alliance鈥檚 broader deterrence posture. Under the French Constitution, the president is commander-in-chief of the armed forces and the sole to decide on the potential use of nuclear weapons.
Here is a look at 贵谤补苍肠别鈥檚 nuclear capabilities, by the numbers:
1 warship
贵谤补苍肠别鈥檚 is the only surface warship in Europe capable of carrying nuclear weapons deployed by Rafale fighter jets using catapult-assisted takeoffs.
The navy鈥檚 flagship has in recent weeks operated in the North Atlantic and the Baltic Sea, making a stop in recent days .
Because the carrier undergoes lengthy periodic overhauls, France does not have a permanent sea-based air nuclear capability.
Macron confirmed in December that the country will build to replace the Charles de Gaulle by 2038.
4 submarines
France has four nuclear-armed : Le Triomphant, Le T茅m茅raire, Le Vigilant and Le Terrible (The Triumphant, The Fearless, The Vigilant, and The Terrible).
They are based in Ile Longue on the Atlantic coast, one of the nation’s most secretive military sites.
Each 138-meter (453-foot) submarine is operated by a crew of about 110 and can carry 16 M51 intercontinental ballistic missiles armed with multiple warheads.
Since 1972, at least one nuclear-armed submarine has been on patrol at all times, ensuring 贵谤补苍肠别鈥檚 permanent capacity to carry out a strike.
500 kilometers (310 miles)
The ASMPA air-launched cruise missile 鈥� short for enhanced medium-range air-to-surface missile 鈥� has an estimated range of about 500 kilometers (310 miles).
Launched by Rafale fighter jets, it is designed to serve as a final warning before any potential escalation to large-scale nuclear conflict.
The missiles are operated by the Strategic Air Forces, which was created in 1964 and is based at three sites across France. They can also be launched by jets operating from the Charles de Gaulle.
Macron announced that some nuclear-armed aircraft of the Strategic Air Forces may be deployed temporarily to allied countries, listing Britain, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Sweden and Denmark as key partners.
8,000 to 10,000 kilometers (5,000 to 6,200 miles)
The M51 submarine-launched ballistic missile has an estimated range of 8,000 to 10,000 kilometers (5,000 to 6,200 miles). The exact range has not been made public.
The upgraded M51 entered operational service in October and features improved accuracy and enhanced ability to penetrate missile defenses, according to the French Defense Ministry. Each missile carries multiple independently targetable nuclear warheads.
Over 80% of 贵谤补苍肠别鈥檚 warheads are submarine-launched, according to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists.
290 warheads
France has an estimated 290 nuclear warheads, according to released by the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) and the Federation of American Scientists (FAS). Macron announced the number of French warheads will increase but didn’t provide a figure.
That makes France the world鈥檚 fourth-largest nuclear power (more than 4,300 warheads), the United States (about 3,700) and China (about 600). The United Kingdom 鈥� no longer an EU member but a NATO ally 鈥� is estimated to have about 225 warheads, according to SIPRI and FAS.
All five nations are nuclear-weapon states recognized under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty.
India, Pakistan and North Korea have acknowledged possessing nuclear weapons. Israel is widely believed to have them but has never publicly confirmed it.
Exact stockpile numbers are closely guarded state secrets.
Iran long has insisted its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only. But it has in recent years been enriching uranium to up to 60% purity 鈥� near weapons-grade levels of 90%.
UN nuclear watchdog said it was whether Iran has suspended all uranium enrichment, in a report seen Friday by The Associated Press before ,
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