France opens talks to include Latvia in advanced nuclear deterrence initiative

Bilateral defense negotiations

Latvian Prime Minister Andris Kulbergs announced on 22 September 2026 that French President Emmanuel Macron agreed to begin formal talks on Latvia joining France's advanced nuclear deterrence framework. Kulbergs stated that he maintained active communication with Macron regarding closer defense cooperation between the two nations. A French diplomatic and military delegation is scheduled to travel to Riga to commence detailed negotiations. Macron also pledged to reinforce the French military presence on Latvian territory, focusing specifically on air defense support. France already participates in NATO air policing missions across the Baltic region, an arrangement established when Latvia joined the alliance in 2004 and expanded after Russia annexed Crimea in 2014. Kulbergs noted that these bilateral commitments will bolster defense across Latvia and NATO's eastern flank.

“President Macron agreed to enter negotiations with Latvia concerning our country's accession to the French nuclear deterrence initiative.”

Expansion of French nuclear framework

Macron first presented the advanced deterrence initiative on 2 March as a mechanism to integrate interested European partners into French strategic planning. The framework provides for joint exercises and high-level strategic consultations while keeping nuclear command and launch authority strictly under French presidential control. Ten European partner nations have already signed on to the initiative: the United Kingdom, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Finland. Latvia, which shares borders with both Russia and Belarus, seeks to become the next participating state. Neighboring Baltic states Lithuania and Estonia are also considering joining the French-led deterrence structure.

EU sanctions negotiations

The nuclear deterrence announcement occurred as Latvia adjusted its diplomatic posture concerning European Union sanctions. During negotiations to prolong EU sanctions, Latvia initially opposed exempting Russian businessmen Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from the restrictions list. The Latvian government subsequently dropped its objections and chose to abstain during the vote on sanctions renewals. Reports by the Financial Times and Euronews indicated that French authorities advocated for removing Usmanov from the sanctions list to help negotiate the release of French citizens held in Azerbaijan. Although the official Latvian announcement did not explicitly tie the nuclear talks to the sanctions vote, the explanation formed part of a broader government communication regarding the shift.

Domestic sanctions and broader enforcement

Kulbergs defended the decision on EU sanctions as necessary to protect the continuity of the broader sanctions framework against Russian aggression.

“It was not about choosing between a good and a bad solution, but between a bad and a much worse one: an opportunity to choose between altering the status of two people and the future of the entire sanctions regime, which affects more than 2,600 people and entities associated with Russian aggression.”

Following the EU vote, the Latvian government announced that it will draft domestic legislation to impose national sanctions directly against Usmanov and Fridman. The Latvian government affirmed that it will utilize every available legal mechanism to freeze the assets, funds, and economic resources of both individuals within Latvia's borders.