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| Europe | |
| Macron in speech to nation: I've decided to protect our allies in Europe with French Nukes | |
| 2025-03-06 | |
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… for European counties to increase their defense spending and posture, stating that Europe must be prepared to go alone in the defense of Ukraine and the rest of the continent against Russia, “I want to believe that the U.S. will stand by our side, but we have to be ready for that not to be the case.” Macron also announced the start of discussions on France extending the protection of its nuclear arsenal to other countries, stating, “Our nuclear deterrent protects us: it's complete, sovereign, French through and through — I have decided to open the strategic debate on the protection of our allies on the European continent through our deterrence,” with this following calls from soon-to-be German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, for both France and Britain to begin expanding their nuclear arsenals for the defense of Europe. President Macron has called for a meeting of European Defense Ministers and Chiefs next week in Paris, where the topics of nuclear deterrence and European rearmament can be discussed, as well as the possibility of deploying a peacekeeping force to Ukraine to enforce a ceasefire with Russia. Finally, Macron ended the speech by calling for unity amongst the French people, stating, “The French nation needs you. Political decisions, military equipment, that is just one part of the puzzle. But it will never come without solidarity. Our generation will not be able to just live off the dividends of peace. It is up to us to sow the seeds for the future.” | |
| Posted by:3dc |
| #20 Whatever Europe wants to do is of no interest to me. As in literally no interest. A continent of idiots who have foisted marxism and open borders on their citizens while robbing them of voting rights and the weapons they would need to overthrow their betters. Whatever happens to them, happens. |
| Posted by: Crusader 2025-03-06 22:17 |
| #19 Europe does need a credible deterrent and nukes are the most cost effective and proven deterrent. Plus France already has an established nuclear weapons infrastructure that would have to be expanded, not developed.from scratch. This deterrent would buy us time to assess and adjust conventional defense. Ukraine proves that conventional weapons alone are worthless, an apparently so are security guarantees by nuclear powers. @17 See Second Sino-Japanse War. The big war resulting from Trump's and Biden's and Obama's actions and inactions in Eastern Europe might very well start in the pacific. See Chinese naval exercises near Australia. |
| Posted by: Elmerert Hupens2660 2025-03-06 19:54 |
| #18 ^ True Dat |
| Posted by: Frank G 2025-03-06 19:27 |
#17
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| Posted by: badanov 2025-03-06 19:18 |
| #16 America has and does pay for full spectrum defense including limited missile defense. That said, if mr.Putin is the first to start tossing nukes around, well he understands what would happen next. |
| Posted by: Difar Dave 2025-03-06 19:06 |
| #15 And what about you? |
| Posted by: European Conservative 2025-03-06 18:42 |
| #14 During the 1970's NATO thought nukes were needed for defense. Maybe so, but it was still dangerous. Today, there is no reason that Europe can not mount a credible conventional defense. |
| Posted by: Difar Dave 2025-03-06 18:36 |
| #13 Go ahead. Give us time to withdraw US troops |
| Posted by: Frank G 2025-03-06 18:26 |
| #12 For years I've heard on Rantburg that Europe should defend itself. Now that it decides to do just that, you call that "insane"? What do you want? |
| Posted by: European Conservative 2025-03-06 17:28 |
| #11 I’m not sure I want to be protected by nukes as it implies getting nuked myself. The alternatives have to be considered. The only _absolutely certain_ way to avoid a confrontation with a potential adversary is to give in to _all_ of his demands. Europe should take Macron, by his word. We should invest in lots and lots of nukes. They're crude, but they deter. And this deterrence will give us time to sort things out. And Japan should turn the screwdriver. Even if Trump personally is a friend of Japan his successors might sell out Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Australia, NZ to China. |
| Posted by: Elmerert Hupens2660 2025-03-06 15:20 |
| #10 Did his mom let him wear his Elynskyyy costume to play time? |
| Posted by: swksvolFF 2025-03-06 14:19 |
| #9 Trump Effect: E.U. Leaders Meet to Discuss Boosting Military Self-Reliance |
| Posted by: Skidmark 2025-03-06 10:43 |
| #8 "Trump is a loud-mouthed jerk, but I like what he is doing." - I've heard that more than once already and we are only a couple months in. Let me step out on a stout limb and predict that will become a common attitude as time goes on. As for Macron's speech, I've seen this movie: The Euros form a series of interlocking mutual defense pacts, some nutter shoots an archduke, and we're off to the races. |
| Posted by: SteveS 2025-03-06 10:28 |
| #7 Congratulations, European Conservative. Germany needs more employers who can expand employment. Germany also needs more power plants, but that’s a separate issue. |
| Posted by: trailing wife 2025-03-06 09:52 |
| #6 Insane? Whatever. Donald Trump is making me rich. The value of my investments in Thyssen Krupp and Rheinmetall has DOUBLED within one month. The value of my own company is up 60%. Carry on, Donald. |
| Posted by: European Conservative 2025-03-06 08:38 |
| #5 France has some very bad nuclear weapons. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2025-03-06 08:07 |
| #4 No. They can hit targets up to 8000 km away. |
| Posted by: European Conservative 2025-03-06 08:02 |
| #3 IIRC France's missiles can reach as far as Warsaw. |
| Posted by: Procopius2k 2025-03-06 06:46 |
| #2 I’m not sure I want to be protected by nukes as it implies getting nuked myself. Not sure I want to drink wine with a half-life either. |
| Posted by: Super Hose 2025-03-06 06:05 |
| #1 Somebody should put this pooch down. |
| Posted by: Grom the Affective 2025-03-06 02:58 |