French nuclear weapons could be temporarily stationed in Sweden under security crisis, say experts

Sweden and France have held initial talks on European nuclear deterrence, a cooperation that could lead to joint exercises and the protection of French nuclear-capable aircraft—and potentially even the temporary deployment of French nuclear weapons on Swedish soil during a security crisis, experts tell public broadcaster SVT.

The two countries met in Paris in mid-April after France invited Sweden to discussions on strengthening Europe’s nuclear deterrence capabilities. While the exact scope of the talks remains unclear, analysts suggest the collaboration could take several forms.

Karl Sörenson, head of the nuclear weapons analysis programme at the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI), said a partnership might initially focus on training to safeguard French nuclear-armed aircraft and enabling their reception in Sweden. But in a “grey zone” between peace and war, he added, Sweden could host French nuclear-capable planes on a temporary basis.

“Imagine a security situation becomes highly tense,” Sörenson told SVT. “A few such systems could be deployed to Sweden for a short period, then withdrawn once tensions ease. That’s a plausible scenario.”

Kjell Engelbrekt, professor of political science at the Swedish Defence University, agreed that exercises and protection of French aircraft would likely be the first steps. In a grey-zone conflict, however, he said Sweden might invite French nuclear-capable planes to land in the country—particularly if faced with overt or covert nuclear threats.

“The mere suspicion that nuclear weapons could be present in Sweden would have a deterrent effect,” Engelbrekt said. He noted that in an escalated crisis, discussions could extend to “moving positions forward,” potentially leading to the temporary stationing of nuclear-armed aircraft.

Both experts stressed that Sweden’s parliament has firmly opposed hosting nuclear weapons in peacetime. Any deployment in a grey-zone scenario would require political approval, with Sörenson noting that while Sweden is “neither at war nor at peace,” further Russian pressure on NATO territory could make such measures a consideration.