STOCKHOLM — Norway and Finland have initiated discussions with France regarding a French-led extended nuclear deterrence initiative. Nine European countries have expressed interest in the initiative. This development follows French President Emmanuel Macron's proposal in February 2020 for a dialogue on the role of French nuclear weapons in Europe.
The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) released its annual report on global nuclear forces, which noted an increase in France's nuclear warhead inventory from 290 in January 2025 to 370 in January 2026. The number of deployed nuclear warheads worldwide also increased over the past year. France maintained its nuclear stockpile below 300 warheads for nearly two decades before this reported increase.
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre stated, "Together with some of our closest partners and Allies, Norway will be discussing in more detail how France's nuclear weapons can further enhance European security and deterrence." Norway's policy of prohibiting nuclear weapons on its soil during peacetime remains unchanged by these discussions.
French and Finnish leaders agreed that Finland would receive more detailed information before deciding whether to join the initiative. Finland shares a 1,340-kilometer border with Russia. Sweden has also discussed the initiative with France and the U.K. Other countries that have discussed the initiative include the U.K., Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, and Greece.
The U.K.'s withdrawal from the E.U. left France as the bloc's sole nuclear-weapon state. French nuclear strike capabilities have been historically tied solely to the country's national defense. Paris included the U.S. and NATO in the discussions to maintain existing diplomatic relations. French nuclear doctrine is centered on national sovereignty and the protection of vital interests, and it does not participate in the NATO Nuclear Planning Group.
Hans Kristensen, an associate senior fellow at SIPRI and director of the Nuclear Information Project at the Federation of American Scientists, said, "The evidence is growing that the nuclear weapon states are sidelining, and even walking away from, their disarmament commitments and are instead flexing their nuclear muscles. By reaching for nuclear solutions, states are creating new risks and fuelling arms-race dynamics." Kristensen added, "Until the old warheads are dismantled, there appear to be more warheads around than the 290 we count for the stockpile. It is a temporary situation similar to the U.S. and Russia, where the total inventory is affected by retired but yet to be dismantled warheads."
As of January 2026, as many as 2,200 nuclear warheads were kept on high operational alert, which represents an increase of up to 100 from the previous year. Eighty-three percent of missiles carrying deployed nuclear warheads belong to Russia and the U.S. An upgraded M51.3 submarine-launched ballistic missile, carrying a new warhead, is operational on French ballistic missile submarines. France's third generation of ballistic missile submarines is scheduled for delivery in 2036.