France Expands Nuclear Arsenal and Extends Deterrence to European Allies Amid Iran War

France announced a dramatic expansion of its nuclear arsenal and offered for the first time to extend its nuclear deterrent to European allies, marking the most significant shift in European security policy since the end of the Cold War. President Macron's announcement — which includes increasing the number of warheads and modernizing delivery systems — comes as the Iran war exposes the fragility of the American security umbrella that has protected Europe for eight decades. By offering nuclear protection to neighboring nations, France is positioning itself as Europe's primary military power at a moment when the continent's dependence on American defense guarantees has never looked more precarious. The move effectively acknowledges that the old transatlantic security architecture is breaking down under the weight of multiple simultaneous conflicts and a United States increasingly focused on its own strategic priorities in the Middle East.