Uploaded June 2025 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago

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France's atmospheric nuclear testing program was a crucial, yet highly controversial, element of its Cold War nuclear deterrent. Conducted first in Algeria and then extensively in French Polynesia, it released significant radioactive fallout, leading to long-lasting environmental contamination and serious health consequences for military personnel and local populations. Decades of secrecy and denial were followed by gradual, and often criticized, acknowledgment and compensation efforts, with the legacy still impacting French Polynesia and veterans today.