France is coordinating with European partners to expand its nuclear deterrent against Russia
France is working with European partners on a “forward deterrence” plan intended to expand its nuclear capacity and deter Russian aggression, The Jerusalem Post reported, citing The Wall Street Journal. French President Emmanuel Macron announced the initiative in March; it includes new infrastructure, communications and intelligence links, plus plans to deploy nuclear-capable Rafale fighters across Europe.
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The Jerusalem Post, citing The Wall Street Journal, reported France is coordinating with European partners to expand its nuclear deterrent against Russia. The plan, called “forward deterrence,” includes new infrastructure, communications, early-warning and intelligence-sharing links, as well as deployments of nuclear-enabled French Rafale fighter jets across Europe.
The report named the UK, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark as participants with varying degrees of involvement. French President Emmanuel Macron announced the project in March. France has held talks with partners individually rather than in group meetings, prompting them to compare what French officials have told them, senior defense officials told the Journal.
The Journal said doubts about whether the US would risk nuclear war to defend a European ally have grown amid President Donald Trump’s energy deals with Russian President Vladimir Putin and pressure on Ukraine.
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Verifier’s note
The Jerusalem Post reports that France is working with ten European nations on nuclear deterrence as confidence in U.S. security commitments wanes, matching the proposed event. It attributes the report to the Wall Street Journal rather than providing independent reporting.