France and Finland hold their first Nuclear Steering Group meeting under Forward Deterrence
27 October 2026
France and Finland held the first meeting of their bilateral Nuclear Steering Group in Paris on 27 October, the Élysée said. Finland had joined France's Forward Deterrence on September 14th. The idea comes from President Emmanuel Macron's speech on nuclear deterrence at Île Longue, where he promised strategic dialogues with the European partners taking part. The meeting brought together people from the Élysée, the offices of Finland's President and Prime Minister, both countries' defence and foreign ministries, and senior military officers. They discussed how to bring the two countries' strategic thinking closer together. France is the only nuclear-armed member of the European Union, and Île Longue in Brittany is the base of its ballistic-missile submarines.
In plain words
Forward Deterrence — France's concept of extending strategic dialogue on its nuclear deterrent to European partners who join it.
Élysée Élysée Palace — The official residence and office of the President of France in Paris.
Île Longue — A naval base in Brittany that houses France's nuclear ballistic-missile submarines.
Deterrence — Preventing an attack by making clear that it would bring unacceptable retaliation.