France pledges to defend Gulf allies, floats nuclear shield for Germany

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot declared Tuesday that France is prepared to defend its regional partners if formally requested, as tensions escalate across the Middle East following US-Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehran's retaliatory attacks. Speaking to RMC and BFM TV, Barrot emphasized that any French action would be "proportionate" and in accordance with international law principles of collective self-defense, while clarifying that France is not automatically involved in the conflict.

Gulf Operations and Security

Regarding a drone strike that hit a hangar at a French base in the United Arab Emirates, Barrot stated that "we cannot have the certainty that France was explicitly targeted," urging caution in drawing conclusions. He confirmed that French Rafale fighter jets stationed in the UAE are conducting airspace security operations over French installations. Barrot noted that France maintains defense agreements with countries including the UAE, Qatar, and Kuwait, with "exchanges very frequent, at all levels, diplomatic and military." Approximately 400,000 French nationals reside across a dozen countries affected by the crisis.

Nuclear Deterrence Evolution

Barrot described President Emmanuel Macron's latest address on nuclear policy as "a historic speech" marking a new step in French deterrence, which "will remain independent and French from beginning to end." Under what Macron terms "advanced deterrence," France would strengthen its arsenal while launching new cooperation forms with European partners. Barrot suggested that "nuclear weapons could be located in Germany, for example, or at least military capabilities could be dispersed in such a way as to complicate an adversary's calculations." However, he stressed that ultimate authority remains in Paris: "If one day Germany were to say, 'We are under threat, we must activate the bomb,' we could still say no. It is the president of the republic who will sovereignly determine whether France's vital interests are concerned."