Norway signs defence pact to join French nuclear deterrence scheme
Oslo becomes the ninth nation to enter the 'forward' nuclear deterrence framework, citing the most serious security environment since the Second World War.
Norway has become the ninth country to join the French-led nuclear deterrence scheme, following the signing of a comprehensive defence pact between Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store and President Emmanuel Macron in Paris. The agreement, announced on Wednesday, aims to bolster European security amid what Store describes as the most serious security situation since the Second World War.
Under the 'forward' nuclear deterrence scheme, participating nations can temporarily host French strategic air forces to complicate adversary calculations. President Emmanuel Macron announced in March that France – the only nuclear-armed country in the European Union – would extend its nuclear umbrella to willing European partners. France possesses an estimated 290 nuclear warheads, with more than 80 percent being submarine-launched.
The pact establishes frameworks for cooperation on hybrid warfare, maritime security, space, cybersecurity, support for Ukraine, and defence industrial collaboration. Store noted that the agreement reinforces cooperation through concrete structures, plans, exercises, and the prepositioning of equipment, enabling a swift and coordinated response when required.
Prior to Norway, eight countries had joined the programme: Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. The UK is estimated to have about 225 warheads, while Russia holds more than 4,300, the United States 3,700, and China 600, according to data from the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute and the Federation of American Scientists.
Macron described Norway as a key geographical and strategic partner with significant existing cooperation in ensuring the protection of Allied territory against external threats. He stated that Oslo would represent a strong added value for the enhanced deterrence, allowing French forces to spread out across the European continent.
Store highlighted that in the past six months, Norway had entered into defence agreements with both Germany and the UK, expressing pleasure at signing this comprehensive agreement with France. The exact operational timeline for the hosting of French strategic air forces in Norway is not specified in the source material.
The agreement marks a significant step in European defence integration, with France leveraging its status as the world’s fourth-largest nuclear power to strengthen collective security. The details of the 'prepositioning of equipment' remain general within the framework mentioned, focusing on the structural and strategic alignment between the two nations.
