Bardella calls on European countries to buy French aircraft for nuclear umbrella

Jordan Bardella, leader of the French National Rally party, has stated that European allies should purchase French combat aircraft instead of American F-35s to gain access to Paris's nuclear shield. This call risks undermining support for the French defense initiative among EU partners.

Jordan Bardella, leader of the French far-right National Rally party, has made an unexpected demand: European countries wishing to come under France's nuclear umbrella must abandon American F-35 fighters and switch to French combat aircraft. This statement came amid broad discussion about European defense autonomy.

French conditions for allies

According to Bardella, participation in Paris's nuclear shield should be accompanied by specific procurement obligations in favor of the French defense-industrial complex. The politician made clear that allies operating American-made aircraft cannot count on full integration into France's system of nuclear deterrence.

However, such a position raises serious questions: many European states have already signed multi-billion-dollar contracts for F-35 deliveries and are unlikely to abandon them. The Netherlands, Denmark, Poland, Norway, and a number of other countries have bet on the American fifth-generation fighter.

Threat to the European initiative

Bardella's proposal risks cooling allies' interest in the very idea of a European nuclear shield under Paris's aegis. Experts warn that imposing strict procurement conditions could be perceived as an attempt to use collective security for commercial interests rather than a sincere willingness to share the burden of nuclear deterrence.

The Paris initiative for European defense is already controversial without this: a number of NATO partners fear that it will weaken transatlantic cohesion. Additional conditions from French politicians threaten to further complicate the formation of a broad coalition around this idea.