French President Emmanuel Macron | Stephane De Sakutin/AFP via Getty Images Macron calls for European dialogue on French nuclear arms ‘The vital interests of France have a European dimension,’ president says.

PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron called on Friday for a dialogue with other European governments on the role that France's nuclear arsenal could play in the Continent's security.

In a speech at the War College in Paris on Friday, Macron did not go as far as declaring that France's nuclear deterrent could be used to defend other European countries. But he made clear that he saw French and European defense as closely linked.

“Let’s be clear — henceforth, the vital interests of France have a European dimension,” he said. “Our nuclear forces play a deterrent role in Europe, they reinforce the security of Europe through their mere existence and in this respect have an authentically European dimension.”

He proposed a “strategic dialogue, with interested European partners, on the role of French nuclear deterrence in our collective security.”

This would include participating in French nuclear military exercises and, Macron said, would contribute to "the development of a real strategic culture among Europeans," needed in a new global context.

Macron has repeatedly called on Europe to take more responsibility for its own defense, citing doubts about the reliability of U.S. security guarantees, the demise of landmark arms control agreements like the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty, and more aggressive postures from Russia and China.

Macron's language on nuclear deterrence appeared designed to signal that France itself is ready to increase its contribution to Europe's security — and to reassure European governments who have been nervous about his efforts to reach out to Russia.

Macron also reaffirmed that Brexit would not diminish Franco-British nuclear cooperation.

“As the only nuclear European powers, France and the U.K. affirmed in 1995 that they can't imagine a situation in which the vital interests of one of them could be threatened without the vital interests of the other being threatened as well. I want today to solemnly reaffirm this,” Macron said. "We will continue [this cooperation] with determination and Brexit changes nothing in this regard."