Sweden has taken a first step into talks on nuclear deterrence together with France. The initiative marks the beginning of a dialogue on how European countries can strengthen their collective defense in what is described as an uncertain international climate.
The meeting took place in Paris and brought together representatives from both countries’ governments. On the Swedish side, participants included among others the national security adviser Niclas Kvarnström, while the talks were held with representatives of President Emmanuel Macron’s administration.
According to a joint statement, the two countries have now laid the foundation for continued cooperation. The focus is on strengthening Europe’s security through a combination of France’s nuclear capabilities and other countries’ conventional military capacity.
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Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson describes the meeting as a first step in a longer process. He emphasizes that it is still too early to draw any far-reaching conclusions, but highlights the importance of Sweden participating in the discussions.
“This is a long-term issue, and we want to be involved from the beginning,” he says to the news agency TT.
At home, Sweden’s participation in the dialogue has sparked political debate. The government has not yet resumed contact with the opposition on the issue, where opinions have previously been divided.
At the same time, decisions on key security policy choices—such as NATO membership, the establishment of an American military presence in Sweden, and now also the discussion about nuclear weapons—have been made without any direct popular referendum.