French President Emmanuel Macron's proposal to have Europe protected by the French nuclear umbrella was received cautiously, but also welcomed, by the leaders of the Scandinavian countries, who are traditionally reserved on nuclear weapons issues, notes Agence France-Presse.
“Everything must be on the table at the moment“, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen told the national news agency Ritzau upon her arrival for the EU summit in Brussels.
“This is not something we are working on, but you will not make me say “no” "other people's ideas," she added.
Last night, Macron said he wanted to "start strategic debates" about protecting Europe with the French nuclear umbrella, and stressed that in any case the decision on a possible strike "will remain in the hands of the president" of France.
“Like most people, Sweden wants to have as few nuclear weapons as possible, but right now we should be happy and grateful that two of our neighbors (France and Britain) have nuclear weapons“, said Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson.
He argued that “otherwise only Russia would have nuclear weapons“.
The leaders of the 27 European Union countries gathered in Brussels today for an emergency meeting aimed at strengthening European defense at a time when US President Donald Trump is undermining the transatlantic alliance and freezing US military aid to Ukraine, AFP reported.