Latvia says France agreed to nuclear deterrent talks

Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs said Tuesday that France had agreed to begin talks with Latvia on participation in a French nuclear deterrence initiative and to increase its military presence in the Baltic state.

Kulbergs said French President Emmanuel Macron “has agreed to begin negotiations” with Latvia and that a French delegation would soon visit the country.

He also said Macron had expressed a commitment to strengthen the French military presence in Latvia, particularly in air defence. Kulbergs said the move would strengthen Latvia and NATO's eastern flank.

Macron has offered to start talks with other European countries on extending the protection of France's nuclear deterrent as concerns continue over Russia's invasion of Ukraine. France and Britain are the only nuclear-armed countries in Europe.

France already takes part in NATO air patrols in the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. The mission was expanded after Russia's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014 and now includes other eastern European countries.

Macron said in March that France was ready to develop an “advanced” deterrent that included other countries but would not give them control over France's nuclear bomb. Several European countries have joined the French initiative, while Estonia and Lithuania have said they want to join. Russia has condemned the plan as “reckless.”