France is extending its “nuclear umbrella” over Europe amid doubts about the reliability of US security guarantees. The plan, which President Emmanuel Macron has called “forward deterrence”, is intended to make it harder for Russia to plan potential attacks.
This is reported by The Wall Street Journal.
The initiative envisages deploying French Rafale fighter jets capable of carrying nuclear weapons in other European countries, as well as creating secure communications channels, early-warning systems and intelligence-sharing arrangements.
Ten countries have joined the project: the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Greece, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark. Italy has declined to take part, and the Baltic states are not included in the initiative.
In Paris, officials stress that France’s nuclear deterrent is meant to complement existing US guarantees, not replace them. At the same time, the final decision on the use of nuclear weapons will remain with France.
French nuclear doctrine allows for the use of weapons if the country’s “vital interests” are threatened. Macron said these are not limited to France’s borders and have a European dimension.
France is estimated to have around 290 operational nuclear warheads. Its ASMP-A missiles, carried by Rafale fighter jets, are capable of striking targets on Russian territory.
At the same time, experts note that the question remains open as to whether Moscow will believe Paris is prepared to risk a retaliatory nuclear strike to protect its allies. Even so, the French initiative creates an additional factor of strategic uncertainty for Russia.
- The United Kingdom and France held joint exercises for the first time involving British Typhoon fighter jets and French Rafale aircraft, practising a nuclear-strike scenario.