France: Security

Domestic

French authorities addressed several security incidents in February. In Paris, police shot and killed a man who threatened officers with a knife under the Arc de Triomphe; the national anti-terrorism prosecutor's office is investigating the case, with reports indicating the suspect had a history of violence. Separately, a Jewish primary school in Paris was vandalized. President Emmanuel Macron is set to address the fight against violent extremist groups following a death and has called on the public to avoid an escalation of violence. Concurrently, Macron has placed French nuclear deterrence at the center of the European security debate, urging Europe to utilize this capability.

In Marseille, a teenager was sentenced to 17 years in prison for a contract killing of a rideshare driver, amid broader concerns over crime and drug-related issues. Authorities expressed shock at the high number of drug users, even as reported victims of narcotics trafficking fell in 2025. A local market was closed under anti-narcotics laws for money laundering and counterfeiting, and human bones were discovered at a construction site.

International

President Emmanuel Macron's international engagements focused on defense and security partnerships. A central development was his visit to India, where a major defense deal was a focus; India cleared a proposal to buy 114 Rafale fighter jets, with 90 to be manufactured locally. Macron also discussed strengthening bilateral ties in defense and artificial intelligence. At the Munich Security Conference, Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz held talks on potential European cooperation on nuclear deterrence, with Macron emphasizing Europe's global strengths.

In other developments, Russia's Foreign Intelligence Service accused the United Kingdom and France of plotting to secretly provide Ukraine with nuclear weapons, a claim repeated in multiple Russian official communications. Separately, French authorities placed two Chinese nationals under formal investigation on suspicion of espionage in Paris.