France Moves To Extend Nuclear Deterrence To European Allies

PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEF (PDB) – France will expand the size of its nuclear arsenal and implement a policy of “advanced deterrence” that could include deploying nuclear-capable forces to the territory of European allies, President Emmanuel Macron said.

This follows recent Trump-led U.S. equivocation about its role as NATO’s ultimate nuclear guarantor.

Still, President Emmanuel Macron announced the new strategy after consultations with allies, taking care to assuage fears that the deterrence already provided by the U.S., U.K., and NATO would not be affected.

Despite concern in Europe over Washington’s commitment to collective security, extended U.S. nuclear deterrence remains a cornerstone of European security. The French effort can be seen as a reinforcement of the U.S. role, or a second backstop.

Eight European countries – Germany, the U.K., Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Sweden, and Denmark – will participate in the new advanced deterrence strategy, which could involve locating part of France’s nuclear arsenal, aircraft, or other weapons on their soil.

France has approximately 290 nuclear warheads, 50 deployed on air-launched cruise missiles, and around 240 on submarine-launched ballistic missiles.

FOR YOUR EYES ONLY – Here’s a roundup of today’s other top defense news from conservative national security expert PAUL CRESPO.

THE PDB – Not the President’s Daily Briefing, but almost as good – PAUL’S DEFENSE BRIEF:    

NATIONAL SECURITY

Vice President JD Vance — a Marine veteran of the Iraq War who has long been skeptical of U.S. military interventions abroad — insisted the war with Iran is different because President Trump “has clearly defined what he wants to accomplish.” Trump won’t “allow” a long war.

War Secretary Hegseth lays out Iran goals: “No stupid rules of engagement, no nation-building quagmire,” acknowledges casualties, says mission is “laser focused.”

U.S. Cyber Command and Space Command were among “first movers” to begin “layering non-kinetic effects” as the U.S. launched its strikes on Iran, the nation’s top officer said.

Some veterans who served in the Middle East are questioning whether the U.S. has a clear “end state” for operations against Iran. Others say it’s a long time coming — payback for decades of the Iranian regime’s supporting and arming terrorist proxies that have attacked and killed U.S. troops.

HOMELAND DEFENSE

With ongoing operations in Iran, consumption of any alcoholic beverages is now restricted for the U.S. Space Force squadron that operates a missile warning system.

US POWER OVERSEAS

A U.S. Marine Corps one-star general recently took command of a joint logistics unit in Norway, where the service is gearing up for major NATO combat drills.

IRAN CAMPAIGN

Trump projects the war on Iran could last “four to five weeks.” In his first public comments since unleashing attacks on Iran, Trump defended U.S. military operations as necessary to “eliminate the grave threats posed to America.”

Chairman of Joint Chiefs outlines “massive, overwhelming attack” on Iranian targets. Gen. Dan Caine describes “H-hour” of Operation Epic Fury.

Gen. Caine also announced that additional military personnel were on their way to Iran and to expect “additional losses.”

Iran war enters fourth day in “smoke and blood” as markets slide.

Six dead, 18 service members injured in Iran operation. The number of U.S. personnel killed and injured in Operation Epic Fury rose after an Iranian attack on a U.S. tactical control center in Kuwait.

Israel attacks the presidential office in Tehran as the reported death toll in Iran rises to 787.

CENTCOM releases footage of more strikes in Iran, U.S. assets launching attacks.

Newly released unclassified footage from the U.S. military showing strikes on Iran, March 1, 2026.

US FIRSTS IN IRAN CONFLICT

Navy’s newest carrier USS Gerald R. Ford’s support of Middle East operations that began 4 days ago likely is showcasing — and testing — its cutting-edge technology and capabilities, which older carriers lack.

Poetic justice. For the first time in combat, the U.S. military is deploying one-way kamikaze drones that are copycats of Iran’s drones used extensively by Russia against Ukraine.

IRAN THREAT

President Trump launched military strikes on Iran after several rounds of talks over the country’s nuclear program and uranium stockpiles. How advanced is Iran’s nuclear program? Here’s what we know.

REGIONAL, ALLIED IMPACT OF IRAN CONFLICT

Iranian strikes on the weekend targeted regional bases that host European troops, triggering air defense systems and sending soldiers to seek shelter in bunkers.

The U.K. will allow U.S. forces to use British military bases for defensive airstrikes against Iran as Middle East tensions escalate in the wake of joint U.S. and Israeli attacks on Iran over the weekend and Iranian attacks on British installations in Cyprus.

CHINA THREAT

China could face “real problems” within two months if the Strait of Hormuz crisis drags on. An expert warns that China gets up to 23% of its seaborne oil from Iran through the troubled waterway.

Attack on Iran could buoy Trump in talks with China’s Xi. U.S. military campaign against Iran has put Chinese leader Xi Jinping on the back foot ahead of an expected summit with President Trump, who for the second time in as many months has turned U.S. military against one of Beijing’s close partners or minions.

Xi has removed three retired military generals, including the former commander of the People’s Liberation Army ground force, from the top political advisory body just days before its largest annual political gathering.  This follows a purge of top active-duty military officials in recent months.

RUSSIA THREAT/UKRAINE WAR

Putin’s $2.5 trillion gambit. As Russia’s war in Ukraine enters its fifth year, debates over sanctions, negotiations, and military aid increasingly hinge on a central question: How costly has the war been for Russia? We used standard economic tools to find out.

SPACE THREATS

Space Force guardians have been expanding their terrestrial and orbital infrastructure for months, and this month they gained a new asset: a satellite that will let them train in a kind of “orbital warfare” the service wants to master.

Space Force rethinks satellite ground station strategy. Instead of customized development, Space Force will seek commercially derived ground stations.

DEFENSE POLITICS

Owen West takes over the Pentagon’s Defense Innovation Unit and stated the organization’s efforts will focus on fielding emerging technologies that can keep warfighters out of harm’s way and be quickly scaled at low cost.

US MILITARY

Pentagon seeks robot ships (autonomous freighters) to haul supplies to combat zones and dangerous waters.

Loss of three Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles to friendly fire over Kuwait underscores an enduring reality of conflict: despite advances in technology, high levels of training, and carefully prepared plans, casualties inflicted by the same side are always a hazard. During the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003, two examples appear eerily similar to the incident over Kuwait.

END of PDB

The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the positions of American Liberty News.

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