Finland will join the ‘advanced nuclear deterrence’ scheme proposed by France
Finland has decided to “join” the “advanced” nuclear deterrence scheme proposed in March by French President Emmanuel Macron to European countries: the two countries announced this in a joint statement. “A nuclear coordination group will be set up in the coming months to begin implementing this cooperation,” they added. This brings to ten the number of European countries that have joined the French initiative. Although France is, alongside the United Kingdom, the only European country to possess nuclear weapons, this initiative involves other European states voluntarily participating in French nuclear deterrence, without, however, providing for any sharing of the final decision, which remains in the hands of the French Head of State.
Stubb: We are working to ensure the security of the whole of Europe
“Finland and France are strengthening their cooperation in the defence sector,” said Finland’s President Alexander Stubb today, announcing his country’s participation in “French nuclear deterrence”.
“Our defence cooperation took a step forward last summer, when France announced that it would make forces available for NATO’s Advanced Land Forces in Finland. Today we have taken a further step, with Finland joining France’s nuclear deterrent,’ explained Stubb.
“The initiative is primarily aimed at strengthening European security. It reinforces Europe’s responsibility for its own defence and helps to prevent escalation,” Stubb went on to explain, adding that “the initiative neither replaces nor overlaps with NATO’s nuclear deterrent. Finland’s main guiding principle is to act as a member of both NATO and the European Union.”
“Finland has no intention of stationing nuclear weapons on its territory in peacetime,” Stubb concluded.
