Garans misleads on French nuclear weapons in Latvia

Voldemars Garans, a candidate for the Sovereign Power/Union of New Latvians alliance, misled voters by claiming France could deploy nuclear weapons in Latvia, LSM’s fact-checking unit Re:Check reported. Talks about Latvia potentially joining a French nuclear deterrence initiative do not provide for such a deployment.

Garans said the government was preparing Latvia for war and claimed the country could become a target if nuclear weapons were stationed there. Sovereign Power leader Julija Stepanenko has also warned in a campaign video against deploying nuclear weapons in Latvia.

The French initiative involves defence cooperation and participation by allied countries in French training. It also allows France to temporarily send to member countries’ territory military assets capable of carrying French nuclear weapons, such as aircraft. France retains full control over the use of its nuclear weapons and does not offer member countries a nuclear protection guarantee.

Ten European countries have joined the initiative, and Estonia has also begun talks. Re:Check contacted Garans to ask why he said nuclear weapons would be deployed in Latvia. He maintained his position after speaking with the fact-checking unit.