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Finland and France pledged to deepen their defence cooperation on Monday, as Helsinki officially became a participant in a French-led initiative designed to reinforce European security through forward nuclear deterrence.
In a joint statement, the two countries described the move as a significant development for both European security and bilateral ties.
The agreement is expected to bolster their strategic partnership and create opportunities for meaningful signalling, as well as enhanced capability in managing escalation below the nuclear threshold. A dedicated “Nuclear Steering Group” is slated to be established within the coming months to oversee the implementation of this cooperation.
In a post on X, Finnish President Alexander Stubb emphasised that Finland’s “foremost priority” remains its role within NATO and the European Union, and that the French initiative would not “replace or overlap with NATO’s nuclear deterrence.”
“Finland does not intend to station nuclear weapons on its territory in peacetime,” he added.
The United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, Sweden, the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Denmark, and Norway have previously signed on to France’s initiative, which seeks to expand nuclear collaboration across Europe through joint exercises.
Under this framework, participating nations may also host French nuclear-capable aircraft on a temporary basis.
Paris, however, will retain sole authority over its nuclear arsenal, with any decision on its use resting exclusively with the French president.
Estonia Could Be Next
Estonian Prime Minister Kristen Michal told AFP that Tallinn was actively “in discussion” with Paris regarding potential cooperation in this area.
“This is not the kind of initiative that you simply join … It requires certain capabilities, readiness, and so on,” Michal told the news agency on the sidelines of the European Arctic Summit in northern Finland.
“We are already under NATO’s nuclear umbrella. And France is also backing up our independence with the troops stationed in Estonia. So if deeper cooperation in the nuclear field is possible, it probably will be,” he added.
Since March 2017, France has maintained a military presence of approximately 300 troops in Estonia as part of NATO’s enhanced forward presence in the Baltic states.
