French air force Rafale jet fighter (AP)
Europe is preparing for a future in which the US nuclear umbrella may no longer be taken for granted, and France wants its nuclear-armed Rafale fighter jets to help keep Russia in check.French President Emmanuel Macron is pushing to extend France's nuclear deterrence across the continent as US President Donald Trump presses European allies to take greater responsibility for their own security, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal.The plan, known as “Forward Deterrence”, could involve deploying nuclear-capable Rafale fighters to allied countries, expanding intelligence sharing and conducting joint military exercises.France would retain sole authority over its nuclear weapons, but the initiative could give European partners a greater role in preparing for a potential confrontation with Moscow.According to The Wall Street Journal, the initiative involves 10 European countries alongside France.
The countries involved are United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark.The level of participation varies, with cooperation potentially covering military exercises, intelligence sharing and discussions on nuclear deterrence. Italy has declined to join the initiative, while the three Baltic states Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania — are not part of the current group.
The French initiative comes as European governments reconsider how far they can rely on Washington to deter Russia. Trump has repeatedly pressed Nato allies to spend more on defence and take greater responsibility for Europe's security, fuelling debate over the continent's dependence on American military protection.The US remains the backbone of Nato's nuclear deterrence, with American nuclear weapons stationed at several European bases under existing nuclear-sharing arrangements.
However, concerns over Washington's future commitments have encouraged France to promote its independent nuclear arsenal as an additional layer of protection.France's approach reflects a longstanding strategic concern that the US might hesitate to risk a nuclear confrontation with Russia to defend a European ally. Paris is seeking to reassure its partners without replacing Nato's existing arrangements or transferring control of its nuclear weapons to other countries.Nuclear-capable Rafale jets at the centre of France's planFrance's Rafale fighter jets could play a key role in the initiative, as the aircraft can carry the country's ASMP-A nuclear-tipped air-launched cruise missile.The missile gives France an airborne nuclear strike capability alongside its submarine-launched nuclear arsenal, allowing Paris to maintain a deterrent that can operate across multiple platforms.Deploying nuclear-capable Rafale fighters to allied countries could expand the locations from which French aircraft operate during a crisis, complicating Russian military planning.The initiative also builds on growing military cooperation between France and its European partners. On October 23, France announced that British Royal Air Force Typhoon fighters had participated in a French airborne nuclear exercise for the first time. The exercise, called Rummy, simulated a nuclear strike mission.