Russia has criticised France over plans to expand its nuclear arsenal, warning that the move could trigger a new nuclear arms race and further destabilise global security.
In a statement released on March 4, Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, said remarks by Emmanuel Macron about increasing France’s nuclear capabilities were deeply concerning and should be viewed in the broader context of NATO’s military posture toward Russia.
Zakharova said the planned expansion, which she described as lacking transparency, comes amid what Moscow views as increasingly hostile rhetoric from Western countries.
“The statement made the other day by French President Emmanuel Macron regarding Paris’s intention to embark upon a non-transparent expansion of its nuclear arsenal constitutes an extremely destabilising development,” Zakharova said.
She added that the move “fully aligns with sharply negative trends” within NATO activities in the nuclear sphere, which Russia claims are being carried out under anti-Russia slogans.
Zakharova also accused both France and the United Kingdom of expanding their nuclear capabilities outside international arms control frameworks.
According to her, the United Kingdom had earlier adopted a similar approach by significantly increasing its nuclear stockpile while reducing transparency about its arsenal.
“London will, in addition to its existing sea-based component, acquire air delivery systems for nuclear weapons and gain access, with US consent, to US nuclear aerial bombs newly deployed in Britain,” she said.
Zakharova further claimed that an undeclared number of United States nuclear weapons are stationed in several European NATO countries and Türkiye, from where they could potentially strike targets inside Russia.
“Russia is compelled to take into account that, in addition to the United Kingdom, an undeclared number of such weapons is stationed in four other European NATO countries and Türkiye,” she said.
Moscow also expressed concern about efforts by European NATO members to develop what it described as an “autonomous European nuclear deterrent,” involving closer coordination between France, Britain and other allies.
Zakharova said these efforts include joint planning between London and Paris on the possible use of nuclear weapons and deeper cooperation with non-nuclear NATO members.
She warned that some European countries could eventually host elements of France’s nuclear capability.
“Paris also allows for the option of subsequently deploying elements of its nuclear capability on the territory of formally non-nuclear allies,” she said.
The Russian Foreign Ministry also raised alarm over reports suggesting Western countries were considering transferring elements of nuclear weapons to Ukraine.
Zakharova said Russian intelligence had obtained information suggesting officials in France and the United Kingdom were discussing the possibility.
“We cannot accept attempts by London and Paris to categorically deny the credibility of this information,” she said, adding that the alleged discussions posed a serious risk to the global non-proliferation regime.
She said the issue should be addressed during the upcoming review conference of the Treaty on the Non‑Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, scheduled for April–May this year.
Zakharova warned that actions by Western nuclear powers risk undermining international efforts aimed at preventing the spread of nuclear weapons.
“As a consequence, the uncontrolled expansion of NATO’s military nuclear capabilities requires heightened attention and the most careful consideration in our own military development and planning,” she said.
