"France has offered to 'extend' its nuclear umbrella to other European countries without actually 'sharing' it. How can that work, asks John Lichfield. This will be the subject of a speech by President Emmanuel Macron in the next two weeks which could be one of the most important speeches in European history. Or a damp squib. Macron has promised to update France's nuclear doctrine. In other words, he will revisit the rules which have governed use of France's force de frappe or nuclear deterrent"
"In the early 1960s, France insisted on having a completely independent nuclear deterrent because Charles de Gaulle did not believe that the United States would risk New York to save Paris. Six decades later, Germany and other European countries have come to a similar conclusion. They fear that they can no longer rely on a Trumpian, or post-Trumpian, US nuclear umbrella to protect them from nuclear attack by Russia. They are tempted to take out a second insurance policy with France."
President Emmanuel Macron will update France's nuclear doctrine, revisiting rules that have governed the force de frappe for decades. Macron has held confidential talks with Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz, and Poland and Scandinavian countries have expressed interest in France's offer to 'extend' its nuclear umbrella without sharing control. France is also discussing limited nuclear cooperation with Britain. Governments have combined precision and deliberate ambiguity when describing these arrangements, producing expert debate about feasibility. Many European states now doubt full reliance on a US nuclear umbrella and seek a second insurance policy with France. France, however, remains unwilling to share ownership or operational control of its deterrent.
Read at www.thelocal.fr
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