Russia Warns Europe Over French Nuclear Deployment Plans
Russia has warned European countries against hosting French strategic bombers capable of carrying nuclear weapons, saying such states would automatically become targets in the event of a conflict, according to Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko.
Moscow sees French President Emmanuel Macron’s initiative as part of a dangerous expansion of NATO’s nuclear capability.
Macron has said France is ready to discuss the temporary deployment of its nuclear deterrent in partner countries in Europe. Negotiations are reportedly under way with several states, including Germany, Poland and Denmark.
Paris says the move is a response to growing security risks and calls for greater defense autonomy in Europe.
Russia argues that such steps would reduce, rather than strengthen, European security. “It is obvious that our military will be forced to pay increased attention to this issue in the context of updating the list of priority targets in the event of a large-scale conflict”, Grushko said.
The developments come as the global nuclear arms control system weakens, with the last remaining treaty between the US and Russia having expired and tensions rising over the war in Ukraine. At the same time, NATO has called on Russia and China to be more transparent about their nuclear capabilities.