Norway Joins “Enhanced Nuclear Deterrence” Program
ARK News.. The leaders of France and Norway announced that Oslo has joined a nuclear deterrence program led by Paris in a move aimed at strengthening security across the European continent.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store said during a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris: “We are facing the most serious security situation since the Second World War.” The two sides also announced the signing of a comprehensive defense agreement between the two countries.
Store added: “Over the past six months, we have concluded defense agreements with Germany and the United Kingdom, and I am pleased that today we have signed a comprehensive defense agreement with France.”
The Norwegian prime minister explained that the agreement strengthens cooperation through “concrete structures, plans, and exercises and pre-positioning of equipment,” ensuring “a rapid and coordinated response when actually needed.”
Under the initiative, known as “Enhanced Nuclear Deterrence,” participating countries will be able to temporarily host French “strategic air forces,” which would be deployed across Europe in order to “complicate the calculations of adversaries,” according to remarks made by Macron when launching the initiative.
With Norway joining, the number of participating countries in the program rises to ten. Previous members include Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Poland, and Sweden, as well as the United Kingdom, which also possesses nuclear weapons.
The agreement also provides a framework for closer cooperation in several key areas, including hybrid warfare, maritime security, space cooperation, cybersecurity, support for Ukraine, and cooperation in defense industries.
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