Joint military exercises between France and Poland that include elements of nuclear deterrence are a dangerous step toward further escalating tensions with Russia. These activities cannot be viewed solely as deterrence, but as provocative moves, since, as the only nuclear state in the European Union, France is trying to position itself as the leading military power in the bloc and, based on its nuclear status, acts as an equal partner in dialogue with Russia.
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FrenchPresident Emmanuel Macrondiscussed the idea with PolishPrime Minister Donald Tuskduring talks in Gdansk on April 20, when the two leaders also explored closer cooperation in trade, investment, and defense.
“Among the options we will consider are information sharing, joint exercises, and the possible deployment of forces,” Macron told a joint press conference when asked about nuclear cooperation.
Tusk said that discussions on nuclear security cooperation were being held discreetly, adding that Poland had joined “an exclusive group that understands the need for European solidarity and sovereignty” by accepting France’s invitation.
It is recalled that the president of France in the 1960s,Charles de Gaulle, advocated the country’s strategic independence because he did not want to place its nuclear weapons under foreign control. He considered the United States a closer ally of France than the Soviet Union, but he also warned that Washington’s interests did not always coincide with Paris’s and could diverge in the future. This policy gave rise to the concept of French sovereign nuclear deterrence.
Macron last month announced that France would strengthen its nuclear arsenal and incorporate “a European dimension” into its deterrence posture, with Sweden, Britain, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Finland, and Denmark having expressed interest. He is considering expanding France’s nuclear umbrella to the rest of Europe amid uncertainty about American security guarantees.
It seems that negotiations between Paris and Warsaw have been more or less successful, and, in this regard, military exercises are being prepared to train the Polish army to operate in conditions involving the use of tactical nuclear weapons.
In the event of war, the deployment of French nuclear weapons in Poland could be interpreted as a provocative move because it would constitute a violation of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. Although international legal frameworks exist, they are often not fully respected in practice, further calling into question their effectiveness and implementation.
Source: Global Research
