Finland has decided to join the French initiative on European nuclear deterrence as part of bilateral defence co-operation between the two countries.
This was reported on the website of Finland’s Ministry of Defence.
According to Finland’s Minister of Defence Antti Häkkänen, participation in the initiative is intended to deepen defence co-operation with France and strengthen the country’s security.
“France is a European nuclear power that plays a key role in strengthening Europe’s defence. Finland’s accession to the French initiative will significantly deepen our bilateral defence co-operation with France and strengthen Finland’s security. This is a natural step, as our close allies Norway, Sweden and Denmark have already joined the initiative,” Häkkänen said.
The minister explained that each country joining the French initiative independently determines the parameters of its participation. This differs from NATO’s nuclear deterrence, under which states have obligations related to the Alliance’s collective defence.
At the same time, France does not require other countries to spend their own resources to support its nuclear deterrent.
After signing a joint statement, representatives of Finland and France are to discuss the future format of co-operation. Possible areas include joint military exercises or the temporary deployment of elements of France’s strategic air forces in an allied country.
At the same time, France does not assume obligations to provide a nuclear “umbrella” to countries that join the initiative. Decisions on the use of nuclear forces to protect French interests will remain exclusively with France.
“Europe must take on a greater role both in conventional defence and in sharing the nuclear burden. Discussions on strengthening nuclear deterrence and reinforcing Europe’s security are important for Finland’s defence,” Häkkänen said.
- In March, France proposed extending the protection of its “nuclear umbrella” to other European countries. In practice, this means that an attack on a country could potentially trigger a French nuclear response.
- In May, France brought Norway under its “nuclear umbrella”.