🇫🇷☢️🇩🇪🇵🇱 France to increase nuclear arsenal and European weapons cooperation, Macron says

French president says Paris could deploy nuclear-capable fighter jets to countries such as Germany and Poland

France will increase the size of its nuclear arsenal for the first time in decades and significantly intensify nuclear weapons cooperation with eight European allies including the UK as part of a “major” strengthening of its deterrence doctrine, Emmanuel Macron has said.

Amid growing concern among European leaders about wavering US commitments to help defend the continent, the French president said on Monday that Paris could deploy nuclear-capable Rafale fighter jets to partner countries such as Germany and Poland.

But there would be no sharing of decision-making on the use of the country’s nuclear weapons, he said, with the “ultimate decision” the responsibility of the French president and “the definition of [France’s] vital interests” also remaining “sovereign”.

Macron cited Russia’s war against Ukraine, which last month entered its fifth year, China’s expanding military power and recent changes in US defence strategy as reasons why Europe had to take more direct responsibility for its own security.

Under unspecified circumstances, French “strategic assets” could be deployed in other European countries, he said, referring to France’s nuclear-capable Rafale jets. Talks on enhanced cooperation had already started with the UK, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Sweden and Denmark, he added.

🔗 https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/mar/02/france-increase-nuclear-arsenal-european-weapons-cooperation-macron-says

🇺🇸🇮🇱⚔️🇮🇷 Satellite images show a continued pattern of strikes targeting IRGC ballistic missile launchers, while most buildings and tunnel entrances remain intact.

— Imam Ali: Likely strikes near tunnel areas (low-res image).

— South Isfahan: Road crater suggests a strike on a moving launcher; burn marks at a launcher site.

— North Isfahan (Mar 1–2): One launcher destroyed and a missile inspection building damaged; second burn mark seen the next day. No confirmed hits on tunnel entrances.

— Garmdareh (near Tehran): Burn marks from damaged/destroyed vehicles; tunnels likely untouched.

— Khorgu: Two suspected missile inspection buildings and other admin/technical structures destroyed; no visible damage to tunnels or silo-like structures.

— South Shiraz: Four launchers destroyed; visible fuel burn trace.

— West Shiraz: Missile inspection building destroyed; no other visible damage.

— Panj Pelleh (Kermanshah): Four launchers hit around Feb 28–Mar 1.

— Hajiabad: Three launchers destroyed near tunnel entrances.

🔗 @clashreport

🇺🇸🇮🇷⚡️ — NEW: The Trump administration is considering providing military protection for oil and gas tankers passing through the Strait of Hormuz to ease energy prices that have climbed after Iran warned it could target ships in the waterway, according to POLITICO.

➡️ The Trump administration is also considering having the U.S. government backstop insurance for tankers, as marine insurers raise premiums or withdraw coverage, even though the strait remains open.

➡️ The Pentagon is discussing a maritime mission similar to past Red Sea operations, where U.S. carriers and destroyers were deployed to protect freedom of navigation amid threats from Iran-linked forces.

🇮🇷❌🇮🇹🌹 — Tensions in Milan as Italian leftists protesting against the US-Israeli Airstrikes against the Islamic Republic of Iran face off Iranian diaspora counter-protesters supporting the strikes outside the US Consulate of Milan

On video, a Iranian man holding a Lion and Sun flag accuses the Italian leftists of supporting child killers and being blind towards the mass killing that took place in January

🇺🇸❌🇮🇷 — WATCH: CENTCOM released footage of U.S. strikes on Iranian Shahed drones ready to be launched.

The Iranian regime's killer drones have been a menace in the Middle East for years.

These drones are no longer a tolerable risk.

🇫🇷📞🇺🇸🇮🇷 — French Emmanuel Macron wants “an end to the strikes as quickly as possible”

@BellumActaNews

🇫🇷🤝🇦🇪 — French President Macron announces that French Armed Forces will start Defensive measures to protect Arab partners from Iran:

We must stand beside our friends in the region.

Defensive and protective actions will be taken.

This is what makes France a credible partner.

🇫🇷🤝🇶🇦🇰🇼🇦🇪 — French President Macron says that France is now protecting Arab countries from Iran:

We have defense agreements with Qatar, Kuwait and the UAE.

We must stand with them.

🇫🇷🤝🇨🇾 — French President Macron announces protective measures to defend Cyprus from Iranian Aggression:

I have decided to send a warship to Cyprus for defense.

🇫🇷📞🇮🇱🇱🇧 — French President Emmanuel Macron says Israel should not invade Lebanon:

"It would be a dangerous escalation and a strategic mistake,"

🇫🇷🇦🇪🛬 — French President Emmanuel Macron announces the arrival "of two flights in Paris as early as this evening" from the Middle East:

"We are currently organizing in good order the repatriation of our fellow citizens"

🇫🇷🪖❗️ — French President Emmanuel Macron says he wants "to build a coalition to resume and secure traffic in these essential maritime routes" as in the Strait of Hormuz, Suez Canal, Red Sea