Have had enough of US fear: Norway and France make historic nuclear deal

 Norway is preparing for a major shift in European defence strategy after announcing plans to deepen nuclear cooperation with France.

Agreement was unveiled in Paris on Wednesday, where French President Emmanuel Macron and Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere confirmed that Oslo will begin discussions about joining France’s nuclear umbrella.

Move reflects growing anxiety across Europe about how much the continent can continue relying on the United States for long-term security guarantees.

Norway Takes Historic Step

For decades, Norway has been among NATO’s most loyal Atlantic allies, traditionally leaning heavily on American military protection.

Now, Oslo is moving closer to Europe’s own nuclear powers.

Macron and Stoere signed a broader defence cooperation agreement that includes Norwegian participation in a French-led nuclear initiative known as “forward nuclear deterrence.”

Under that framework, European allies become more closely integrated into French strategic nuclear planning.

“This agreement establishes a principle of mutual assistance between our two countries,” Macron said.

French president also argued that stronger defence ties inside Europe are necessary to build greater strategic independence.

NATO Still Comes First, Norway Says

Norwegian leaders stressed that NATO and the United States will remain the country’s primary military deterrent.

France’s nuclear capabilities, however, are increasingly viewed as an additional layer of security.

“France’s capabilities are an important contribution to NATO’s deterrence posture, which is important for us,” Stoere said.

Norwegian prime minister also attempted to calm fears of nuclear weapons being stationed inside Norway itself.

“No nuclear weapons will be deployed in Norway in peacetime,” Stoere told Norwegian news agency NTB earlier Wednesday.

Europe Responds to Growing Uncertainty

Decision arrives during a period of mounting concern across Europe over Russia’s military posture and uncertainty surrounding future American commitments to NATO allies.

France offered earlier this year to expand protection from its nuclear arsenal to other European nations.

Poland and Lithuania — both bordering Russia — have already moved closer to French nuclear cooperation.

Norway now joins that expanding list.

“This closer cooperation will make European and transatlantic security stronger,” Stoere said.

“Together, we are enabling a burden shift. It was long before Trump that this became necessary, that Europe had to pay more and do … wiser investments, not only country by country, but coordinated.”

Nuclear Balance Shifting Worldwide

Russia and the United States still control the world’s two largest nuclear arsenals, each holding more than 5,000 warheads according to estimates from the Federation of American Scientists.

China is believed to possess around 600 nuclear warheads, while France holds roughly 290 and Britain approximately 225.

Growing military tension across Europe and Asia has increasingly pushed nuclear deterrence back into the centre of global security discussions — something many European governments hoped belonged firmly to the Cold War era.