The French nuclear initiative has sparked controversy in the EU
France’s proposal to extend its nuclear deterrent to Europe has received support from nine countries, but other nations remain cautious due to the continued existence of the U.S. “nuclear umbrella.”
French President Emmanuel Macron’s initiative to create a “forward-deployed nuclear deterrent” system has already received official support from a number of European countries.
These include Germany, the Netherlands, Greece, Belgium, Poland, Sweden, Denmark, the United Kingdom, and Norway.
At the same time, some European countries do not see any obvious advantages to the project, as they continue to rely on U.S. nuclear guarantees within NATO.
The Baltic states, which are considered the most vulnerable to threats from Russia, have not yet publicly announced their participation or interest in the initiative.
Finland, which shares the longest land border with Russia among EU countries, is considering joining the French initiative, but a final decision has not yet been made.
As Finnish Defense Minister Antti Hakkanen noted, discussions are ongoing, but the process may take time due to the complexity of security issues.
Meanwhile, according to media reports, the U.S. is discussing the possibility of expanding the deployment of nuclear weapons in Europe, particularly in Poland and the Baltic states, which further complicates the debate on European autonomy in the realm of deterrence.
Analysts note that the nuclear factor remains a key instrument of U.S. influence in Europe, deterring some countries from shifting toward alternative initiatives.
Italy, despite its role in NATO and the deployment of American nuclear bombs on its territory, has also not joined the French project, continuing to support the current system of nuclear deterrence under the auspices of the U.S.
This was reported by Euractiv.
Earlier, during a UN Security Council meeting, a dispute erupted over Iran’s nuclear program. According to U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz, Russia and China attempted to block discussions on the sanctions mechanism regarding Tehran. At the same time, most Security Council member states opposed this initiative. As a result, the debate over Iran’s nuclear program has only intensified.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte welcomed French President Emmanuel Macron’s decision to expand the national nuclear arsenal and his willingness to involve European allies in strategic deterrence.
