[tomatotomato37]

That only works if you have US/Russia level nuclear infrastructure. Second-tier nuclear states are still vulnerable to the two superpowers just by sheer number advantage, be it warheads, delivery systems, or just the land area to hide things like VLF arrays

[kazen44]

this is also the reason why french nuclear doctrine is so offensive. the force de dissuasion specifically allows for a nuclear "warning shot". A small nuclear warhead which is to be used against conventional forces to show the enemy france means bussiness and this is the last and final warning prior to Armageddon.

It also forces all major nuclear powers to act in some way if it is ever used. It allows france to wield a far larger stick compared to its nuclear arsenal.

[hcfman]

All of these ideas have the presumption of reason being applied. If reason is thrown out the window the nukes are meaningless and only endangering the planet.

It's like better the entire existence of the planet that the other guy is reasonable. I don't like the odds and consequences of that bet.

[rsynnott]

France has, apparently, 290 deployed nukes, mostly on SLBMs. Probably enough to give Moscow _some_ pause.