You're right, thanks for adding context. I'm immediately suspicious when a picture is posted with no accompanying news article, and my search wasn't turning up any articles, only social media links.
Hijacking the top comment to let people know this isn't in response to any American threats, this is Naval Group, a French naval defense company, showing off their submarine because Canada is looking to spend 60 billion on twelve submarines. The plans for this purchase were publicly announced on July 10, 2024.
Ah shit, that's the same company Australia had a deal with to buy diesel subs, before our fuckwit former PM reneged on the deal to create AUKUS and buy American nuclear subs.
To be accurate, this is a nuclear propelled attack submarine. It does not carry nuclear warheads and is not what we normally call a "nuclear deterrent".
Important note: The "Nuclear" in "Nuclear attack submarine" means that it is powered by a nuclear reactor. It does not refer to its armament. An "attack" submarine means it is designed to attack ships and other submarines and these are typically not capable of carrying and launching ICBMs. Nuclear-armed deterrent submarines are called Ballistic Missile Submarines.
Here's a French article about it. It's not a show of force, it's a naval defense company showing off their submarine in the hopes of being granted a 60 billion dollar contract for 12 submarines that the Canadian government announced last summer.
During a period with seemingly very little good news in the world, I really needed this. Assuming it was done for the optics it conveys, it's some much needed reassurance that our allies actually have our back. Granted, we're still absolutely fucked in the short term if the worst happens, it's still nice to see.
Despite the clear evidence pointing to the image being old, the photograph is still circulating on social media platforms and has been featured in Google searches related to the supposed annexation threat. This highlights how misinformation can easily spread online, especially when fueled by sensational claims and misleading images.
An article using random reddit comments as a source should be outright ignored, IMO.
Especially when said reddit comment has since been edited and no longer reflects what's written in the article. If you bother to follow the reddit link in the article, you'll find someone has replied with an actual source (from France) that shows that the photos are legit, however the title of this post (and the original posts on reddit) are misleading.
This isn't in reaction to American threats, it's a French naval defense company showing off their submarine in the hopes of obtaining a 60 billion dollar contract for twelve submarines that the Canadian government announced last summer.