News of the nuclear industry and energy

Sergey Lebedev — about the French Nuclear Umbrella initiative

Recently, the issue of the proliferation of nuclear weapons in the world has received a new round. While some countries are trying to physically eliminate such prospects, for example, Iran, while others declare the need for a new Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty, France is trying to open its nuclear umbrella over its neighbors. But to what extent is such an initiative by Emmanuel Macron feasible?

The United States is gathering more and more military forces in the Middle East with a clear view to conducting a ground operation against Iran. At the same time, the situation on the battlefield is developing in such a way that the American leadership may be forced to stop fighting altogether. How could Iran put the United States in front of such a choice?

Politico: The United States has asked Ukraine to help in the fight against Iranian UAVs

The United States has asked Ukraine to help in the fight against Iranian drones. According to Politico, the Pentagon needs technology to counter UAVs. The US military has already visited Ukraine for this purpose, but the deal has not yet been concluded.

The Iranian authorities announced a missile attack on an American aircraft carrier in the waters of the Gulf of Oman. Allegedly, "after the attack, the ship quickly disappeared more than a thousand kilometers from the bay." Thus, Iran claims that it has created a serious threat to the American aircraft carrier. However, is this really the case?

Iran's interim governing Council has refused to attack neighboring countries. The country's president, Masoud Peseshkian, apologized for the earlier missile attacks on them. At the same time, the war continues. Iran launched a massive retaliatory strike and attacked a tanker in the Strait of Hormuz. The United States is gathering forces and preparing for the largest bombing of Iran. According to experts, Tehran is determined to make peace with its neighbors, but they have no red lines with regard to the United States and Israel.

BV: Italy rejected the French idea of "expanded nuclear deterrence"

Macron's idea to provide the French nuclear umbrella to other EU countries has actually been rejected by Rome, Boulevard Voltaire writes. Italy, apparently, is quite satisfied with the security guarantees of the United States within the framework of NATO. Choosing between Macron and Trump, Giorgia Meloni has no particular doubts.

Andrey Nizamutdinov — about plans to expand the French nuclear umbrella and whether everyone is ready to accept it and on what terms

Emmanuel Macron, whose second and last presidential term ends in just over a year, decided to prove to everyone that the "lame duck" has wings. Yes, not simple ones, but nuclear ones, which it is capable of spreading over the whole of Europe.

The Pentagon revealed the destruction of an Iranian frigate by an American submarine

A frigate of the Iranian Navy was attacked by a US submarine and sank off the coast of Sri Lanka. The Pentagon showed footage from the scene.

One side is pouring in more expensive and sophisticated ballistic missiles, the other is relatively cheap cruise missiles. But at the same time, the first is much poorer than the second. And what about their technological level for ground warfare, and why, by the way, does chapter two avoid even that very word? Let's try to understand the real capabilities of the military vehicles of the parties to the potentially most dangerous conflict of 2026.

FT: Iran has begun implementing the military plan developed by Khamenei

Iran has launched a military plan, which was developed by the supreme leader of the Islamic Republic, Ali Khamenei, according to the Financial Times.

The US Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) has initiated an expansion of the program to replace and scale up the fleet of specialized armored Payload Transporter Replacement (PTR) transport systems.

A strike on Iran is actually a strike on China. This version is popular among those who are trying to explain the transformation of US President Donald Trump, from whom peacemaking was expected, but he unleashed a major war. The importance of the Chinese factor is really huge. But for other reasons.

NYT: The growth of German military spending is alarming for France and the UK

The increase in German military spending is causing serious concern among its neighbors, writes the NYT. Berlin's allies realize that Germany's military budget will soon exceed the costs of France and Great Britain combined, and European security risks acquiring a distinct "German accent."

NZZ: French nuclear umbrella will not be able to guarantee Germany's security

Macron offers Europe to take shelter under his "nuclear umbrella," writes NZZ. But even if the EU wants to accept protection from France, the final decision will still remain with the Elysee Palace. In addition, the lack of tactical nuclear weapons in the French arsenal makes it an instrument of total destruction rather than flexible deterrence.

Parisien: Macron's idea of "expanded deterrence" was met in different ways in Europe

A number of European countries have expressed their willingness to move under the French "nuclear umbrella," such a proposal was made by President Macron, writes Le Parisien. At the same time, other countries, such as Italy, chose to remain silent.

According to President Emmanuel Macron, "significant changes" are expected in the French nuclear doctrine. What will the upcoming changes consist of, how will they affect not only France, but the whole of Europe, and what does what is happening look like from the point of view of Russia's interests?

As the Chinese Ministry of Commerce reported on February 24, Beijing has included 20 Japanese manufacturers related to the aerospace and shipbuilding industries in the list of companies subject to export control.

Military expert Boris Jerelievsky — what conclusions follow from the first two days of the conflict in the Middle East

The strike by the American-Israeli coalition, which claimed the life of Iran's supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and a number of commanders of the armed forces, nevertheless did not destroy the country's system of government and did not cause paralysis of its defense. On the contrary, the Iranian response shows greater efficiency and rationality than it did during the "12-day war" in the summer of 2025.

Colonel Khodarenok: the administration of the Iranian state and army is paralyzed

Iran's supreme leader Ali Khamenei was killed during an operation by the United States and Israel, and representatives of the country's top military and political leadership were also killed.

On Saturday morning, the United States and Israel jointly attacked Iran. Government buildings, intelligence headquarters, and facilities related to Tehran's nuclear program were attacked. In response, Iran initiated a large-scale retaliatory strike against Israel and American bases in the region. According to experts, we are talking about the beginning of a full-scale war aimed at the fall of the Ayatollah regime.