Norway ready to start nuclear weapons talks with France

Norway is willing to start talks with Paris on how French nuclear weapons can contribute to the continent’s security, Foreign Minister Espen Barth Eide said on Tuesday.

“We are ready to discuss this within the framework of a partnership agreement with France. But our nuclear policy remains firm. We will not have nuclear weapons on Norwegian soil in peacetime,” he told the Norwegian parliament .

Oslo’s willingness to start talks is yet another example of how European countries are shifting their security strategies in the wake of Russia’s attack on Ukraine and worries about relying on the U.S. following Donald Trump’s reelection.

The statement comes after French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that Germany, Sweden, Denmark, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium and Greece agreed to engage with France on the country’s nuclear deterrent.

Macron said France will set up “exchange bodies at the political level” in the coming days with the seven nations. Cooperation will include allowing European allies into French “strategic locations,” joint exercises and, ultimately, potentially deploying French nuclear-capable Rafale fighter jets in other countries on a temporary basis.

Eide said nuclear talks would be part of negotiations on a strategic defense agreement with France. He said Norway — one of Europe’s most U.S.-friendly countries — would also cooperate more closely with other countries, including the U.K., Germany, the Netherlands and Poland.

“This is part of our hedging strategy,” he said.