Paris, March 02 (QNA) - French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday announced that France will increase its arsenal of nuclear warheads, noting that it will cooperate with eight countries to help protect the European continent.

In a speech on deterrence policy delivered from the Ile Longue base in the Brittany region in southwestern France, Macron announced an update to the country's nuclear doctrine.

The French President said that France will no longer disclose the size of its nuclear arsenal as was the case in the past, while stressing, however, that his country does not seek to enter into an arms race, as it has never been France's doctrine.

The chain of command is perfectly clear, he stressed, highlighting that the final decision to use nuclear weapons rests exclusively with the President of the French Republic.

In the face of numerous threats, Macron stated that rethinking and strengthening nuclear deterrence deep in the European continent are a must, while also fully respecting sovereignty, through the gradual implementation of what the French President called 'advanced deterrence.'

The French president said that eight countries have agreed to participate in the advanced nuclear deterrence plan proposed by France, these are Germany, the United Kingdom, Poland, as well as the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Sweden, and Denmark.

Macron indicated that these countries would be able to host French strategic air forces, which would be capable of deploying across the European continent in order to complicate the calculations of adversaries. (QNA)