A New Force Posture Concept for Europeanizing Extended Nuclear Deterrence

AI Summary

A strategic analysis explores a new force posture concept aimed at Europeanizing extended nuclear deterrence, responding to Cold War-era questions about U.S. protection of European cities and recent French policy declarations on nuclear deterrence.

During the Cold War, Europe kept asking whether Washington would risk an American city to save a European one. It was an impolite question, but a useful one, which is why it never quite left the room. It has now packed its bags and moved east. Earlier this year, French President Emmanuel Macron created quite a stir with an important speech on French nuclear weapons policy. Under what he called a new path of dissuasion avancée, or “forward deterrence,” he declared that just as French strategic submarines “dilute naturally in the oceans, guaranteeing a permanent-strike capability,” so also now will The post A New Force Posture Concept for Europeanizing Extended Nuclear Deterrence appeared first on War on the Rocks.