PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday advocated a more coordinated European Union defense strategy in which France, the bloc's only post-Brexit nuclear power, and its arsenal would hold a central role. Addressing military officers graduating in Paris, Macron set out his country's nuclear strategy in a bid to show leadership one week after nuclear-armed Britain officially exited the EU. Macron highlighted how France sees its nuclear weapons as a deterrent against attacks from belligerent foes, though he conceded France’s nuclear might is diminished after its military scaled down its arsenal to under 300 nuclear weapons. But the speech aimed to project strength, as Macron refused to sign any treaty at this stage to further reduce the French arsenal, announced an increase in military spending and positioned himself as the driving force for a united EU -- using France’s military clout to make his point. Macron also touted the French military's role in spots such as Africa's Sahel, where he has just pledged an additional 600 troops to fight extremists.

Source: International New York Times February 07, 2020 11:26 UTC