Finland joins France's nuclear deterrent initiative

BRUSSELS: Finland has joined France's initiative to ​extend the reach of ​its nuclear deterrent through collaboration with partner European countries, the heads of both countries said on Monday.
In response to US President Donald Trump's expressions of concern about the US security commitment to Europe and to the security implications of ⁠the Ukraine war, France in March announced the Forward Nuclear ⁠Deterrence Initiative.
'The initiative is first and foremost about strengthening European security. It reinforces Europe's responsibility for its own defence and helps prevent escalation,' Finland's President Alexander ‌Stubb said in a post ​on X.
'The exact ⁠nature of the cooperation will become clearer in later ​stages of the process,' ‌Stubb later told reporters at a press conference in Helsinki, adding that each participant would determine ​how they wish to participate. He said the initiative had been discussed extensively with the United States and Nato. — AFP