The Kremlin denounced on Tuesday the potential nuclear exercises that France and Poland are expected to conduct, stating that it represents a militarization of the European Union.
The possible joint nuclear exercises between France and Poland indicate a trend in Europe towards increasing militarization and nuclearization, stated the Kremlin spokesman, Dmitri Peskov, in front of journalists.
“Details are important: what type of weaponry would be used and in which countries. However, this seems to be a new proof of Europe’s inclination towards militarization and nuclearization. It is not something that contributes to stability and predictability on the European continent”, he emphasized, according to TASS.
France and Poland could conduct nuclear exercises
The statements come in the context where POLITICO reported that the leaders of France and Poland discussed on Monday about organizing joint exercises, as part of a France-led effort to include allies in its nuclear deterrence mechanism.
“Among the things we will examine are the exchange of information and joint exercises”, stated the French President Emmanuel Macron, in a press conference held in the Polish port city of Gdańsk, when asked about France’s cooperation with Poland in the nuclear field.
France is the only nuclear power in the European Union. At the beginning of this year, Macron announced “a new stage in French deterrence”, a historic change that could offer other European states an expanded role in this mechanism, starting with participation in nuclear exercises.
Cooperation in what is called “advanced deterrence” includes, besides Poland, Germany, Greece, the Netherlands, Belgium, Denmark, and Sweden. Poland, which does not participate in the United States’ nuclear deterrence program, is interested in strengthening European deterrence against Russia.
“We have decided to join a group of countries invited by France to cooperate,” declared Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk. “A select group, made up of countries that understand the need for European sovereignty. We live in a world where we need nuclear deterrence capabilities.”
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