Macron opens up to Friedrich Metz's idea on France creating a nuclear weapons umbrella for Europe.

Speaking to Portuguese press, Macron stated that "if our colleagues want to move towards greater autonomy and deterrent capabilities, then we will have to open this deep strategic discussion. It has very sensitive and confidential components, but I am available and open to this discussion.

Macron continued by stating:

“France has full autonomy in this area (...) in other words, we aren't dependent on anyone else to produce our nuclear capabilities, to maintain them and to operate them by air and by sea, which is also a French specificity,”

He also stressed that France's nuclear capabilities differ from the UK's by saying:

“Our British friends have less comprehensive nuclear capabilities (...) than we do. They are more dependent on their American partners (...) I'm ready to discuss this ultimately sovereign capability if it means we can build a greater European force"

Merz's request came as he was talking about the need for nuclear security in a world where U.S. security guarantees for NATO aren't certain.