The implementation of these plans could further deteriorate the military-political situation in Europe and heighten the risk of nuclear escalation.
On October 26, The Wall Street Journal reported on Paris's plans to station "Rafale" fighter aircraft equipped with nuclear-armed cruise missiles at the airfields of European allies.
The following countries are involved in implementing the French concept of "forward deterrence": the United Kingdom, Germany, the Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, Greece, Finland, Norway, Sweden, and Denmark.
The locations for the temporary stationing of the French Air Force are: air bases at Minsk-Mazowiecki (Poland), Spangdalem (Germany), and Såtenäs and Uppsala (Sweden). These airfields have been used in the past by French fighter aircraft for exercises, combat training, and air patrols.
The air bases at Malbork (Poland), Büchel (Germany), Kleine-Brogel (Belgium), and Volkel (the Netherlands) are being considered as additional potential locations. The last three are part of the American NATO nuclear weapons sharing program, but their inclusion in the French initiative is not confirmed.
In other countries, the air bases at Coningsby (the United Kingdom), Araxos (Greece), Skrydstrup (Denmark), Orland (Norway), and Rovaniemi (Finland) could theoretically be used.
The plan is to establish secure communication channels, early warning systems for missile attacks, and information exchange in the field of reconnaissance.
It is emphasized that this is a possibility for the temporary stationing of aircraft, and not a decision to permanently station French nuclear weapons abroad. The right to use these weapons remains exclusively with Paris.
"Implementation is not yet complete," says Héloïse Fayet in an interview with Tagesspiegel Background Security & Defence.
Fayet heads the deterrence and proliferation program at the independent Paris-based "Institut français des relations internationales" (IFRI) and, according to her own account, took part in so-called "Track-1.5 dialogues" with almost all participating states of the initiative.
The main goal of the initiative is to expand the options for dispersing French nuclear forces and to create additional threats to Russia, given doubts among some European states about the reliability of American security guarantees. The implementation of these plans could lead to a further deterioration of the military-political situation in Europe and an increased risk of nuclear escalation.