Bardella, who leads the National Rally alongside Marine Le Pen, is leading in opinion polls ahead of next year’s election for the French presidency. His comments echo a similar — although less explicit — warning made by Le Pen.
Eight European countries — Germany, Poland, Greece, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden and Norway — are discussing nuclear cooperation with France under an initiative pushed by French President Emmanuel Macron. That includes joint nuclear drills, information sharing and, potentially, temporary deployment of French nuclear-capable Rafale fighter jets in allied countries.
While Bardella didn’t object to the European dimension of France’s vital interests, demanding that allied countries ditch the F-35 would likely limit enthusiasm in the French nuclear initiative. Seven of the eight countries in talks with France have procured the advanced Lockheed Martin jet, although Greece does also operate Rafales. Sweden has its own Gripen jets.
Other European customers for the French fighter include Croatia and Serbia.