Norway Becomes Ninth Country to Join French Nuclear Deterrence Consultation Initiative

Norway announced Wednesday that it will join France's forward deterrence initiative, becoming the ninth country to participate. The other participating countries are Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Greece and the United Kingdom. Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre said Norway's deterrence will continue to be provided by NATO.

U.S. as the initiative expanded. France has not announced plans to permanently station nuclear weapons in nations participating in the initiative. France retains sole authority over any decision involving its nuclear arsenal.

Participating countries will take part in discussions, planning and exercises related to French nuclear deterrence. French President Emmanuel Macron has said participating countries could temporarily host French strategic air forces as part of the initiative. France is the European Union's only nuclear-armed country.

France conducted its first nuclear test in 1960. France built an independent nuclear deterrent during the Cold War under President Charles de Gaulle. At NATO's summit in The Hague earlier in 2026, alliance members agreed to a new goal of spending 5% of GDP on defense and defense-related investments by 2035.

The previous NATO defense spending benchmark was 2%. " In March, Trump rated Macron an "8 out of 10" as an ally. French President Emmanuel Macron addressed the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York on Sept.

23, 2025.