Paris warns Berlin's long-range missile strategy could trigger Russian nuclear retaliation
Read NV on Google
German Taurus cruise missile (Photo: REUTERS/Angelika Warmuth)
France is pressing Germany to clarify how it would use long-range missiles in a conflict with Russia, warning that a lack of clarity could inadvertently draw Europe into nuclear war, the Financial Times reported, citing sources on Nov. 11.
According to six people familiar with the matter, Paris is holding talks with German officials in an effort to align Berlin's doctrine on the use of weapons capable of conducting so-called "deep precision strikes" with France's nuclear doctrine.
One French official warned that a Russian target could be attacked with conventional weapons but still "trigger a nuclear response."
"If the Russians misinterpret the signal, you could find yourself on the brink of a nuclear conflict without even realizing it," the official said.
According to the Financial Times, France's concerns come as Germany, along with several other countries, including the United Kingdom, Poland, the Nordic countries and the Baltic states, significantly expands its arsenal of long-range weapons to strengthen Europe's deterrence capabilities against Moscow.
Berlin is purchasing and developing a range of ground-launched missiles with ranges of 500 kilometers to more than 2,000 kilometers. These weapons would allow the German armed forces to strike targets deep inside Russian territory.
The newspaper reported that the initiative is part of Berlin's efforts to lead Europe's rearmament drive in response to Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine and uncertainty over U.S. security commitments to the continent under President Donald Trump.
However, the push to acquire long-range weapons has raised questions about when and how they would be used, as well as how the Kremlin might respond.
The journalists noted that Paris is paying particular attention to Germany because of its substantial defense budget — 780 billion euros over the five-year period through the end of 2030 — and ambitious rearmament plans.
French officials are concerned that President Emmanuel Macron's concept of "forward deterrence" could lead Moscow to hold Paris responsible for strikes carried out by its partners.
"If you invite someone into your home, you are responsible if that person sets it on fire," one official said.
Another official noted that France, as a nuclear-armed state, has developed a "nuclear grammar and vocabulary," describing them as "unspoken" rules governing the use of weapons.
"There are habits we have developed over time. The Germans don't have them. It would be much better to have a clear and fairly public doctrine so that the Russians never misread or misunderstand the signals," the source said.
A senior German official said Berlin "fully agrees" that European capitals need "a common doctrine and a shared understanding of the escalation ladder."
According to the official, Germany itself initiated discussions three years ago about the need to strengthen conventional deterrence against Moscow.
On July 21, The Telegraph reported, citing its sources, that the United Kingdom and Germany had agreed to work together on a secret program to develop long-range missiles that could be used in a potential war with Russia.
In August, Politico reported that Germany planned to establish a new arsenal of long-range weapons to deter Russia. According to German government estimates, the project could require nearly 12 billion euros in public funding.
The military war may be swinging in our favor, but the information war continues.
Just as an army needs soldiers, so does a free society need its journalists to ensure that people have access to honest, trustworthy voices to understand the world around them.
For the past five years, The New Voice of Ukraine has been working tirelessly to push back against Russian narratives and defend democracy. But we cannot do it alone.
Please consider supporting us on Patreon for just $5 a month – your donation does directly to supporting journalists and ensuring that this front of the infowar says solid and defended.
Thank you.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News
