UK's defense secretary slams Macron for his "no nuke response" statement
Бен ВоллесBen Wallace
British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace criticized French President Emmanuel Macron after he ruled out a nuclear retaliatory strike against russia if it uses nuclear weapons in Ukraine.
Daily Mail reports that according to Wallace, Macron "revealed his hand," confirming that if Moscow uses nuclear weapons in Ukraine, France will not retaliate.
As the publication notes, tensions are rising because Russian president vladimir putin may authorize a nuclear attack as his illegal invasion of Ukraine continues to fail. However, the Kremlin denies that it intends to use its arsenal.
"In recent weeks, Nato allies have repeatedly warned that the consequences for Russia would be dire if it did launch such an attack, although the exact nature of these has been left deliberately ambiguous.
And these threats will loom large in the mind of Putin as nuclear bombers take off from bases in Britain next week in a drill to simulate a nuclear strike on his country," the newspaper writes.
However, as the Daily Mail says, a "chink in that united front" when Macron ruled out the use of his country's nuclear arsenal in the event of a strike by the Kremlin, allegedly for fear of provoking a "global war."
Speaking to state broadcaster France 2, Macron said the French doctrine is based on the nation's fundamental interests, which are clearly defined and "would not be directly affected if, for example, there was a ballistic nuclear strike in Ukraine."
When asked about the statements by the French leader at the Brussels NATO meeting, Wallace said they "reveal President Macron's hand."
"Our view is if Russia were to use a nuclear weapon, there would be severe consequences for Russia. It would be breaking the 1945 taboo on the use of nuclear weapons. And it would leave him incredibly isolated globally," Wallace said.
The Telegraph quoted Nato sources as saying that Macron's remarks could breach the "principles of deterrence" and that he should not "talk about it publicly."
Reference
Macron said that Ukraine would receive radars and missiles for air defense from France in the coming weeks.
According to him, France is working on delivering six additional Caesar howitzers, which were to be transferred to Denmark, and anti-aircraft missiles "to protect Ukraine from missile strikes and drones."
