Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, President Emmanuel Macron urged Europe to embrace long-term strategic planning, develop deep-strike capabilities and rethink its Cold War-era security architecture. He warned that an assertive Russia will remain a threat even after any Ukraine settlement and urged against short-term deals that ignore core issues. Macron announced consultations with British, German and other European leaders and said he will soon detail how France's nuclear deterrent could be integrated into a renewed European framework.
Macron Urges Europe To Become A Geopolitical Power And Overhaul Its Security Architecture
France's President Emmanuel Macron speaks during the Munich Security Conference (MSC) in Munich, Germany, February 13, 2026. REUTERS/Liesa Johannssen
At the Munich Security Conference on Feb. 13, French President Emmanuel Macron called on Europe to adopt long-term strategic thinking, develop deep-strike capabilities and rethink how France's nuclear deterrent might fit into a renewed European security architecture.
Rejecting claims that Europe is in decline, Macron defended efforts to tackle disinformation and the excesses of social media, which he said are harming Western democracies. He argued that Europe must seize the moment to build real geopolitical capacity.
"This is the right time for audacity. This is the right time for a strong Europe," Macron said. "Europe has to learn to become a geopolitical power. It was not part of our DNA."
Long-Term Strategy And An Updated Security Framework
Macron, who is entering the final year of his term, warned that Europe will continue to face an assertive Russia even if a settlement is reached over the Ukraine war. He cautioned against accepting short-term accords that leave core issues unresolved or effectively concede to Russian demands.
To address these challenges, Macron proposed launching a structured series of consultations across Europe to shape a new security strategy. He said initial discussions have involved British and German counterparts and that he expects a wider European debate involving leaders with significant capabilities and strategic expertise.
"We have to reshuffle and reorganise our architecture of security in Europe," Macron said, noting that the current arrangements were largely drawn up during the Cold War and are no longer fit for purpose.
Nuclear Deterrence And Strategic Dialogue
Macron said France will rearticulate the role of its nuclear deterrent within this broader European effort. He announced plans to deliver a speech later this month outlining how Paris sees its deterrent fitting into a revamped European architecture and said France has already begun strategic dialogues with a number of European leaders, "obviously with Chancellor Merz, but with a few European leaders," to explore how national doctrines—guaranteed and controlled by each country's constitution—could be coordinated at the European level.
Macron framed these proposals as part of a broader push for strategic autonomy and resilience across Europe, linking military capability development with democratic resilience against disinformation.
(Reporting by John Irish; Editing by Sudip Kar-Gupta and Jonathan Oatis)
Help us improve.
