Lithuanian and Latvian presidents discuss France nuclear deterrence proposal

VILNIUS - The presidents of Lithuania and Latvia discussed France's nuclear deterrence proposal during a phone call on Monday.

According to the Lithuanian presidential office, President Gitanas Nauseda said the US extended nuclear deterrence, as well as nuclear sharing arrangements, form the basis of NATO's deterrence.

He added that NATO's nuclear mission has the plans and capabilities to deter and defend alliance countries from the Russian nuclear threat.

"At the same time, we welcome all allied steps that complicate Russia's calculations regarding nuclear escalation in Europe, and France's initiative should effectively complement NATO's nuclear deterrence," Nauseda said in the statement.

According to him, Lithuania is open to closer dialogue with France to better understand its doctrine and future plans in the nuclear field. However, he said this dialogue should not be interpreted as questioning the reliability of NATO's nuclear umbrella.

In early March, French President Emmanuel Macron said his country would increase its number of nuclear warheads and proposed creating a new European nuclear deterrence scheme.