John William Sutcliffe IV, Ph.D.
@nuclearhistory.bsky.social
Historian of France's military nuclear ambitions (1945-1958) and US nuclear weapons testing. The views expressed are my own and do not reflect the official policy or position of the US Air Force, the Department of Defense, or the US Government.
And Mitterand in 1994, highlighting a persistent hurdle: "There will be a European nuclear doctrine, a European deterrent, only when there are vital European interests, considered as such by the Europeans, and understood as such by others". #frenchhistory #nukesky www.economist.com/briefing/202...
Can Europe defend itself without America?
It would need to replace military aid, a nuclear umbrella and leadership
www.economist.com
March 5, 2025 at 5:21 AM
And Mitterand in 1994, highlighting a persistent hurdle: "There will be a European nuclear doctrine, a European deterrent, only when there are vital European interests, considered as such by the Europeans, and understood as such by others". #frenchhistory #nukesky www.economist.com/briefing/202...
"As early as 1962, Pompidou stressed that the nuclear force of a continental European country like France, directly exposed to danger, contributed to strengthening the security of Europe." geographie.ens.fr/IMG/pdf/euro...
geographie.ens.fr
March 5, 2025 at 5:10 AM
"As early as 1962, Pompidou stressed that the nuclear force of a continental European country like France, directly exposed to danger, contributed to strengthening the security of Europe." geographie.ens.fr/IMG/pdf/euro...
February 1986: Mitterrand "issue[d] a formal commitment to consult with Kohl on the possible use of tactical (or 'pre-strategic') weapons on FRG soil." Notably, this came after considerable diplomatic efforts and was never implemented. doi.org/10.1162/jcws...
The Sanctuary and the Glacis: France, the Federal Republic of Germany, and Nuclear Weapons in the 1980s (Part 1)
Abstract. This article explores efforts at bridging the nuclear gap between France and the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) during the last decade of the Cold War. It does so by examining the various...
doi.org
March 5, 2025 at 5:01 AM
February 1986: Mitterrand "issue[d] a formal commitment to consult with Kohl on the possible use of tactical (or 'pre-strategic') weapons on FRG soil." Notably, this came after considerable diplomatic efforts and was never implemented. doi.org/10.1162/jcws...
1992: "France’s then deputy defence minister, Jacques Mellick, launched the idea of a European “concerted deterrence” [...] Per the official justification, such an arrangement would allow France to informally extend a “nuclear umbrella” over other European states." doi.org/10.1080/0966...
European nuclear weapons? Zombie debates and nuclear realities
In February 2020, French president Emmanuel Macron invited all interested European states to a “strategic dialogue” on the supposed contribution of France’s nuclear arsenal to European collective s...
doi.org
March 5, 2025 at 4:49 AM
1992: "France’s then deputy defence minister, Jacques Mellick, launched the idea of a European “concerted deterrence” [...] Per the official justification, such an arrangement would allow France to informally extend a “nuclear umbrella” over other European states." doi.org/10.1080/0966...
It was great to hear your presentation today--very informative!
February 12, 2025 at 3:27 AM
It was great to hear your presentation today--very informative!
Thank you! Likewise, looking forward to hearing your perspective.
February 11, 2025 at 6:53 PM
Thank you! Likewise, looking forward to hearing your perspective.