Norway and France Sign Defense Agreement in Paris

Norway and France signed a defense agreement in Paris that places Norway under French nuclear protection. The agreement states that an attack on Norway could trigger a French nuclear response. No nuclear weapons will be placed on Norwegian soil during peacetime.

Norwegian officials cited Russia's military buildup and the war in Ukraine as reasons for the agreement. France has positioned itself as a potential nuclear security provider for Europe. The agreement follows earlier French policy statements dating back to the 1960s on nuclear deterrence.

The pact does not authorize deployment of nuclear weapons in Norway under current conditions. Officials from both countries completed the signing in Paris on the reported date.