France, (Brussels Morning Newspaper) France’s foreign minister said that Russian President Vladimir Putin has to realise that NATO is also a nuclear alliance when he threatens to deploy nuclear weapons. Still, he ruled out the possibility of a military operation led by NATO to safeguard Ukraine. Let’s discuss the nuclear targets in France and the danger that is hovering over them.
Putin’s Warning About Nuclear Target in France
France’s foreign minister said that Russian President Vladimir Putin has to realise that NATO is also a nuclear alliance when he threatens to deploy nuclear weapons. Still, he ruled out the possibility of a military operation led by NATO to safeguard Ukraine.
At the same time that Vladimir Putin was launching the Russian military’s invasion of Ukraine on Thursday morning from the Kremlin, he made a statement promising that Russia would react immediately to any attempt by an external force to interfere with its activities.
“Whoever attempts to obstruct our efforts, and much more so, whoever tries to create threats against our nation and our people, should be aware that Russia’s answer will be quick. And it will lead to such repercussions for you that you have never before experienced in your history “the statement made by the President of Russia.
On Thursday, Western leaders threatened Russia with unprecedented economic penalties; nevertheless, none have called for a military invasion by NATO to safeguard Ukraine.
France’s Stand on Nuclear Exercise
When dozens of French air force fighters, tankers, and radar planes take off from bases all across France every three months, they first form up over the Atlantic Ocean. Then they split up and practised penetrating air defences and dropping nuclear bombs on French soil; they took off from bases across France.
Not only do these semiannual drills, which go by the secret name “Poker,” French train soldiers for nuclear conflict, but they are also becoming an increasingly crucial diplomatic instrument as France strives to fill the hole in Europe that has been created by the disruptive actions of the United States.
According to sources, the most recent iteration of Poker involves a nuclear assault force comprised of twelve Rafale fighter-bombers belonging to the French air force, as well as three aerial tankers in the form of C-135FRs or A330s and an E-3 radar plane. At least one tanker is part of the defence troops, consisting of eight aircraft, either Rafales or Mirage 2000s.
Easy Nuclear Targets in France
France’s nuclear force structure is unique in Europe. France has steadfastly refused to give up the ability to deliver nuclear bombs through the air, unlike the United Kingdom, which stores all of its nuclear weapons on submarines.
In other words, the availability of Rafales equipped with nuclear weapons gives Paris a choice between declaring its intention to wage nuclear war and carrying out limited atomic attacks. All without revealing the position of the submarines equipped with more potent weapons. The French air force trains this specific atomic muscle via poker. Poker is the mechanism that does this. However, there is also a diplomatic aspect to this.
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French Nuclear Deterrent
Since the 1960s, France has supported the deterrent. French nuclear deterrents are sea-launched and air-launched. Four missile-carrying Triomphant-class submarines support FOST. This is the least required to maintain one ship at sea.
A secure communications network and the French Navy’s assault submarines protect its nuclear missile boats.
Modernising the air-launched deterrent force. The Air-Sol Moyenne Portee Ameliore (enhanced air-to-ground medium-range missile) ASMP-A air-delivered cruise missile with a redesigned warhead was developed in October 2009.
The missile has a range of around 500 kilometres and is carried by the Mirage 2000N, manufactured in France. A squadron of these aircraft is stationed in Istres, located in the Bouches-du-Rhone region of southern France. In general, though, France’s nuclear deterrent has benefitted from continuous upgrading over the years.
Conclusion
Even though there are several nuclear targets in France, France has lost nearly half of its nuclear weapons and ground-based delivery systems since the late 1980s. However, what about the many other nuclear forces? At the very least, on paper, France, along with other nuclear powers like the United States, Russia, China, and the United Kingdom, is committed to pursuing discussions to do away with nuclear weapons completely. The elimination of nuclear weapons alone should not be the end aim of nuclear disarmament efforts; rather, the focus should be on achieving a higher level of global security. This has been a central tenet of the French approach to the issue of nuclear disarmament.
