France appeals: A new nuclear pact is needed. The New START arrangement expires

On Wednesday, the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs appealed to the nuclear powers: the USA and Russia, but also to China, to work on a new international arms control system. This appeal was made by France, the only country in the EU with nuclear weapons, in connection with the expiry of the US-Russian New START treaty on February 5.

– France confirms its support for strategic arms control between countries with nuclear weapons and their largest arsenals – said Pascal Confavreux, spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He explained that Paris's appeal applies not only to Russia and the United States, but also to China, which is expanding its arsenal.

The expiration of the New START treaty will mean that “from tomorrow, for the first time since the Cold War, any limit on the largest nuclear arsenals in the world will disappear,” the spokesman emphasized. He added that this process was preceded by further steps backward in compliance with international standards intended to maintain strategic stability. Russia is “responsible for these regressions,” said a representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

He also called on Russia to comply with the obligations arising from the declaration adopted on January 3, 2022 by five countries: the USA, Russia, China, France and the United Kingdom. The declaration concerned the prevention of nuclear war and an arms race.

On Thursday, February 5, the 15-year New START Agreement (New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty) between the US and Russia, concerning the reduction of nuclear weapons, expires. So far, there has been no information about the resumption of talks on the continuation of the agreement, the failure of which may result in a new nuclear arms race.

From Paris Anna Wróbel (PAP)

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