William Molinié, edited by Corentin Alloune / Photo credit: Daniel MIHAILESCU / AFP
Emmanuel Macron has invited all the Defense Ministers of European countries for a conference in Paris on June 19 in order to relaunch the strategic question of anti-aircraft defense and long-range missiles in Europe.
Like an arms race. France is preparing to open up a highly sensitive subject on the European scene. That of anti-aircraft defense and deep strike capabilities. It must even be the subject of a meeting of defense ministers from all European countries in Paris in two weeks. For the time being, no country in the European Union has weapons capable of firing a missile from its territory and hitting a target more than 1,000 km away. A blind spot inherited from the Cold War.
Macron’s desire to move forward on this subject
It was 1987. Gorbachev and Reagan signed the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty at the White House. Crucial agreement between Russia and the United States in the context of the Cold War. It made it possible to eliminate a whole category of weapons which then threatened Europe.
Mainly surface-to-surface missiles with a range between 500 and 5,500 km. But in recent years, Moscow has developed a new cruise missile in a very opaque way. The 9M729, which can reach European capitals in just a few minutes. And above all, it can carry nuclear charges.
Washington declared this treaty null and void in 2019, blaming the Kremlin. But since then, the Europeans have always refrained from developing this type of armament. According to information from Europe 1, the taboo is about to be lifted. The Germans are in favor of it. Several European-made weapon systems are even at the factory gates.
Emmanuel Macron wants to put this strategic subject back on the table. To consider European production of deep strike capabilities. Without leaving the future of the borders of the Old Continent in the hands of NATO or the Russians.