France, Sept. 14 -- "Finland has decided to join forward deterrence," the two countries said in a joint statement on Monday issued after a meeting in Helsinki.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb said the decision was "first and foremost about strengthening European security" and it "help prevent escalation".

He insisted that the initiative "does not replace or overlap with NATO's nuclear deterrence".

France announced the Forward Nuclear Deterrence Initiative in March after US President Donald Trump raised doubts about the United States' security commitment to Europe and NATO.

Finland is the tenth European country to agree to join.

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