Norway joins France's nuclear deterrence initiative (politico.eu)

• Norway joins ten-nation French nuclear deterrence cooperation.
• Bilateral Narvik agreement signed with mutual defense clause.
• No nuclear weapons on Norwegian territory in peacetime.
• Russian nuclear build-up in the High North cited as rationale.
• Initiative responds to European security concerns over US reliability.

"Norway announced it will participate in France's European nuclear deterrence cooperation initiative, becoming the tenth country to join. Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre and President Emmanuel Macron also signed a bilateral defense pact—the Narvik agreement—including mutual assistance. Støre cited Russia's nuclear buildup in the High North as a key reason, but stressed Norway remains primarily reliant on NATO and will not host nuclear weapons in peacetime. The initiative began in March 2026 amid European concerns over US reliability and Russia's war in Ukraine."