France has discussed the use of nuclear weapons with its allies to protect the European Union, according to French President Emmanuel Macron on Wednesday.

"I have decided to start a strategic discussion on the subject of defending our allies on the European continent with our nuclear weapons," Macron states, emphasizing that whatever happens, the decision [on its use] will always remain with the president of the republic," in an address to the French people broadcast by the Elysee Palace.

Macron's announcement comes as the European Union considers measures to bolster its military capabilities, including joint borrowing and defense spending hikes, following the US withdrawal of military aid to Ukraine.

EU looks into boosting its defense

European countries could mobilize billions of Euros in the EU's plan to strengthen its defence sector, according to an EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen statement on March 4.

Von der Leyen pointed out that the EU could generate close to 850 billion dollars through a new proposal that would give European Union member states more monetary space for defence investments, loans worth 150 billion euros for said investments, and a mobilization of the private sector.

France is looking into measures it can take to increase its defence spending in the midst of an increasing deficit and escalating borrowing costs, according to Bloomberg.

The French Finance Minister Eric Lombard said that France committed more than 2% of its national GDP toward defence funding, and is planning to increase this commitment emphasizing that France "will need to find room for maneuver because it’s clear that the new world balance requires an increased effort in defense to preserve peace,” during a press conference on March 3.

Ruling political factions in Germany announced their plan to introduce an amendment to the constitution to increase Berlin's defence spending, Christian Democratic Union (CDU) leader Friedrich Merz stated on March 4.

"Following recent decisions by the US government, there is no longer any room for delay. Therefore, we, the parliamentary factions of the CDU/CSU and the SPD, will submit a proposal to Germany's Bundestag next week to amend the constitution, to ensure that necessary defense spending from the federal budget of the Federal Republic of Germany, exceeding 1% of our GDP, be exempt from the restrictions of the debt brake," Merz stated,