France, March 7 -- Emmanuel Macron has proposed opening a dialogue with other European countries on France's nuclear deterrent, raising questions about what a French nuclear umbrella over Europe might entail - although the Elysee has stressed that France is not seeking to deploy nuclear weapons outside the country, or to revise the nuclear doctrine.

"Never has the risk of war on the European continent, in the European Union, been so high, because for almost 15 years the threat has been getting closer and closer to us," declared French foreign minister Jean-Noel Barrot on Monday.

Caught off guard by an American president seemingly ready to review his historic alliances, Europe is being forced into revising its defence model and counting ...