Is it a given that France or the UK would deploy their nukes in response to, for example, Russian aggression on Europe’s eastern flank, say Estonia? If not, their use as a deterrence there is limited.

The risk I see is, that the EU and NATO isn't showing a hard line (might alternative be too late, so) to Putin. Then all it takes for him to try annexing the Baltic is the reasonable impression NATO isn't willing to go to full over that. In which case we would be screwed. The abandonment of Afghanistan certainly didn't help in projecting that kind of strength.

Salami tactics - https://youtu.be/o861Ka9TtT4

> You are surely aware that France and the UK have nukes.

Only few hundreds, of which much less are deployed, given Vanguard, and Triomphant frequent port calls.