Estonia holds talks with France on joining nuclear deterrence initiative

Estonia is holding talks with France on joining an enhanced nuclear deterrence arrangement, Prime Minister Kristen Michal told AFP, according to ERR.

Michal said the discussions followed Finland’s announcement on Monday that it had joined France’s forward nuclear deterrence initiative. He spoke in Rovaniemi on the sidelines of the European Arctic summit.

“This is not an initiative that one simply joins. It requires certain capabilities, readiness and so on,” Michal told AFP.

“We are already under NATO’s nuclear umbrella. France also supports our independence with forces stationed in Estonia. So if it is possible to deepen cooperation in the nuclear field, that is probably what will happen,” he said.