MOSCOW: The possible deployment of French nuclear bombers across the EU will not enhance security on the continent, the Kremlin said Wednesday, after French President Emmanuel Macron said he was ready to discuss the issue.
鈥淭he proliferation of nuclear weapons on the European continent is something that will not add security, predictability, or stability to the European continent,鈥� Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters.
The French president floated the idea during a TV appearance on Tuesday, comparing it to the United States鈥檚 nuclear umbrella policy that guarantees Washington would reciprocate if its allies come under nuclear attack.
鈥淭he Americans have the bombs on planes in Belgium, Germany, Italy, Turkiye,鈥� Macron told TF1 television.
鈥淲e are ready to open this discussion. I will define the framework in a very specific way in the weeks and months to come.鈥�
France is the EU鈥檚 only nuclear-armed nation.
Amid Russia鈥檚 offensive on Ukraine and US President Donald Trump鈥檚 calls on Europe to take more of the burden for its own defense, discussion is growing over extending Paris鈥檚 nuclear deterrent to the rest of the 27-member bloc.
Russia, the world鈥檚 biggest nuclear power, possesses about 4,000 warheads and views France鈥檚 nuclear deterrence as a potential threat to its national security.
鈥淎t present, the entire system of strategic stability and security is in a deplorable state for obvious reasons,鈥� Peskov added.
Amid his offensive on Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin has several times threatened nuclear escalation, drawing rebukes from the West over 鈥渞eckless鈥� rhetoric.