France reminds US of nuclear treaty’s importance
United States of America – Telephone conversation between M. Emmanuel Macron, President of the Republic, and Mr Donald Trump, President of the United States – Press communiqué issued by the Presidency of the Republic
Paris, 21 October 2018
Ahead of their meeting in Paris for the centenary commemorations of the end of the First World War on 11 November, French President Emmanuel Macron spoke to United States President Donald Trump on Sunday 21 October.
Together they discussed the situation in Syria and shared their concerns about the circumstances that led to the tragic death of the Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
The French President and President Trump also spoke about the future of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF). The French President recalled the importance of the treaty, in particular for European security and our strategic stability./.
United States – Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty – Press briefing by the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs Deputy Spokesperson (excerpt)
Paris, 22 October 2018
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Q. – US President Donald Trump announced that the United States would withdraw from the Russian-American Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF). How do you assess this declaration? What consequences might this decision have?
THE DEPUTY SPOKESPERSON – President Macron reminded President Trump of the importance France ascribes to this treaty, in particular for European security and our strategic stability.
France attributes great importance to conventional and nuclear arms control instruments. The Allies’ concern over the very likely Russian violation and the lack of transparency on Russia’s implementation of the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty was reaffirmed at the NATO summit this past July. We are in close contact with our close partners concerning the American announcement of their withdrawal from the treaty. US-Russian consultations are being held again this week. We call on all the parties to avoid any hasty unilateral decisions, which would be regrettable./.