France has established itself as a leading country in the field of nuclear energy production. It is today the world’s second-largest nuclear power producer and has taken several initiatives that aim to consolidate this leadership long into the future, specifically in Europe. However, a changing context that leads some European countries to move away from nuclear energy production, as well as other challenges, raise a number of uncertainties. How do these challenges and uncertainties influence France’s desire to continue bringing forward its leadership in nuclear energy production?

France has taken essential steps towards the process of disarmament and is resolutely committed to endorse its special role as a nuclear-weapon state. However, some experts have highlighted a level of ambiguity in the French rhetoric, for instance, in the light of the INF Treaty. In fact, by working on different fronts, France has been trying to find the right balance between deterrence and non-proliferation as well as between national interests and international commitments. As a result of the changing strategic context and the growing threats, has France been able to consolidate its political discourse? This blog gives an overview of the French stance on the NPT, TPNW, and the INF Treaty to evaluate the ongoing trends in the field of non-proliferation.