France proposes nuclear deterrence partnership with ten European nations

France has officially proposed a nuclear deterrence initiative to ten European partners, aiming to create “strategic uncertainty” regarding Russia. The plan, announced by President Emmanuel Macron, seeks to strengthen European defense capabilities and strategic autonomy in response to regional tensions and the war in Ukraine.

The initiative involves the potential deployment of French Rafale aircraft and the development of shared infrastructure, communication systems, early warning systems, and intelligence exchange. While France maintains the sovereign right to decide on the use of its nuclear weapons, the partnership aims to bind European allies more closely to French deterrence doctrine.

Participating nations include the United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. Finland’s President Alexander Stubb noted that while the country has no plans to host nuclear weapons during peacetime, it intends to participate in the process and receive information. The process is expected to span 10 to 15 years. Italy has declined to join the initiative, and Baltic states are currently not included, though Lithuania and Latvia are reviewing their non-nuclear status.