European countries split on Macron's nuclear deterrence offer | Euractiv

Questions remain over how it would complement the US nuclear umbrella

France’s offer to extend its nuclear deterrence has so far seduced nine European countries, but the benefits the scheme would provide on top of the US nuclear umbrella remain unclear to others.

Last week, Norway, which has long believed its security was best ensured through ⁠close alignment with Washington, announced it would join France’s ‘forward deterrence’ initiative, joining eight other countries: Germany, the Netherlands, Greece, Belgium, Poland, Sweden, Denmark and the United Kingdom.

This shift sends a very strong signal to both European allies and Washington, Etienne Marcuz, a senior analyst on strategic armaments at the Foundation for Strategic Research, told Euractiv, adding that it could encourage other countries in the region to follow suit.

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