Finland joins France’s European nuclear deterrence initiative

Finland is joining a French initiative on nuclear deterrence that is considered significant for European security, the Office of the President of the Republic and the Ministry of Defence said, according to Yle.

Finland has held confidential discussions with France about the initiative, and the two countries have issued a joint statement on Finland’s participation.

The initiative involves bilateral cooperation with France at both the highest political level and among government officials. President Alexander Stubb said it would strengthen Europe’s responsibility for its own defence and help prevent escalation.

Finland will not station nuclear weapons on its territory during peacetime, Stubb said.

Defence Minister Antti Häkkänen said the agreement would significantly deepen bilateral defence cooperation and strengthen Finland’s security.

The initiative does not replace or duplicate NATO’s nuclear deterrence, which is primarily guaranteed by the United States. Häkkänen said France’s initiative differs from NATO’s nuclear deterrence because France is not imposing collective-defence obligations on participating countries or asking them to contribute to the costs of maintaining its nuclear deterrent.

France will not provide its partners with a nuclear umbrella, the statement said. Its strictly defensive nuclear deterrence doctrine will remain unchanged, and France will retain full control over its nuclear weapons and over how it defines its vital interests.

Norway, Sweden and Denmark are among the countries already participating, alongside Germany, the United Kingdom, Belgium, the Netherlands, Italy and Greece.

A steering group will be established in the coming months to launch the cooperation. French President Emmanuel Macron introduced the initiative’s European dimension in a policy speech in March.