Russia-NATO Tensions Keep Climbing. France is Now Reportedly Seeking to Expand its Nuclear Footprint in Europe.

France is taking a leading role in a new plan to increase deterrence levels as tensions with Russia continue to escalate.

The Wall Street Journal detailed that Paris is working with 10 other countries in the continent over fading confidence in the United States' ability and willingness to provide security assurances.

The "forward deterrence" plan includes the creation of new infrastructure, communications and even the deployment of nuclear capable Rafale jets in different countries. Other participants include the UK, Germany, Poland, Belgium, Finland and Denmark.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb said his government doesn't "have any plans to put nuclear weapons on Finnish soil in peacetime" but does have "plans for creating a strategic dilemma for Russia."

"We felt it would be useful for our security to get information, to be involved in it. We don't know where this is going to end, it's probably a 10- to 15-years process," he added.

France also recently tested an updated nuclear-capable missile. The exercise involved a submarine-launched ballistic missile capable to carrying a nuclear head, Paris' defense ministry said. It was not equipped with a nuclear warhead.

The exercise took place shortly after Moscow warned NATO that it is ready to use nuclear weapons if the alliance seeks to cut off Kaliningrad, an enclave bordering the Baltic Sea.

A document accuses the alliance of going through a "dangerous and reckless course" that puts the sides at "high risks of the outbreak of a direct armed conflict," according to Reuters. It also threats with "Russian strikes against decision-making centers in the alliance's member states right from the outset".

"Russia will be ready to use the entire arsenal of forces and capabilities at its disposal, including nuclear weapons, in order to defend its territory should NATO countries undertake any attempt aimed at isolating the Kaliningrad Region from the ​rest of the country," the document added.

Another report detailed that Russian President Vladimir Putin directly ordered a new wave of sabotage attacks in Europe.

The failed attack at Germany's Leipzig-Halle Airport earlier this year, where a large cargo plane was targeted by drones, was the first of the campaign.

U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded that the operation was the first of several such attacks planned in different NATO countries, according to The Wall Street Journal.

Ever since, the outlet recalled, different countries have seen similar episodes, including arson attacks against drone manufacturers in Estonia and Poland, and sabotage on Starlink stations.

Russia has repeatedly rejected being behind the incidents, but NATO countries continue pointing at Moscow. Germany said the failed attack "fits the established pattern of Russian hybrid operations in Europe" and took diplomatic measures against the country. Officials also said they expect more attacks of the kind.