France warns Germany its missile programme ‘could accidentally provoke nuclear war with Russia’

Résumé détaillé

Officials are concerned that Germany could inadvertently ‘get to the nuclear threshold without realising’

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France has warned Germany that it could trigger a nuclear conflict with Russia if it does not define how it would use its newly acquired long-range missiles.

Several countries including Germany the UK, Poland and others have taken steps to bolster their defences in a bid to deter Moscow from any attacks on Europe.

As part of this preparation, Berlin is reportedly acquiring and developing ground-range missiles with ranges varying from 500km to more than 2,000km.

But French and German officials are set to hold talks on how these will be used amid fears that their use could trigger a “nuclear response” from Russia, according to the Financial Times. The confusion centres around the definition of deep precision strikes (DPS).

An attack on a Russian target with a conventional weapon could be spark a far greater response from Russia if the signalling is not interpreted right.

“If the Russians don’t get the signal right you could get to the nuclear threshold without realising,” said one French official.

This would have a knock-on effect on France due to president Emmanuel Macron’s “forward deterrence” policy, which means Moscow could hold Paris accountable for strikes by its partners.

“If you invite someone into your house, you are responsible if they set it ablaze,” said one official with knowledge of the discussions.

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