Abstract
France, nuclear weapons and the defence of Europe, by Jean Klein Although French nuclear weapons have now obtained national consensus and their contribution to the Alliance's world dissuasion recognized by the declaration at Ottawa in 1974, opinions differ as to the function which could be assigned to them within the European defence context. In 1976, declarations by the highest political and military authorities have been interpreted as a criticism of the doctrine in the White Paper of 1972, insofar as they considered extending nuclear guarantee to France's neighbours. Since then controversies have been appeased and it would appear that the main points fixed in the 60s have been maintained. It is precisely the specific outlines of French military policy which have impeded the development of European and Atlantic cooperation on matters of defence and it is most unlikely that any appreciable change of situation will take place in the future. Indeed, the evolution of the Soviet-American strategic dialogue and changes in the international environment do confirm the justification of choice in favour of an independent force of dissuasion which must not be mortgaged if the chances of a European defence of Europe are to be maintained.
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