Kremlin Calls for Inclusion of British, French Nuclear Arsenals in Disarmament Talks

Kremlin Advocates Broader Nuclear Disarmament Scope

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov announced on Sunday that any future negotiations on strategic nuclear weapons reduction, while initially bilateral between Russia and the United States, must eventually encompass the nuclear arsenals of Britain and France. Peskov emphasized that these arsenals are a 'component of the overall problem of global European security and strategic stability'.

Context of Russia's Stance

Peskov's remarks come amidst a recent proposal from the Kremlin to the United States to voluntarily maintain for a year the limits on deployed strategic nuclear weapons as outlined in their New START arms control treaty, which is set to expire next year. Russia had suspended its participation in the New START treaty in 2023 but stated at the time that it would continue to observe the warhead limits.

The New START treaty, signed in 2010 by then-presidents Barack Obama and Dmitry Medvedev and extended in 2021, caps the number of deployed strategic nuclear warheads at 1,550 and delivery vehicles (missiles, submarines, and bomber planes) at 700 for each side. However, France and Britain were never parties to this treaty or its precursor agreements.

Strategic Implications and Previous Statements

The inclusion of British and French nuclear capabilities in disarmament talks has been a recurring theme in Russian foreign policy discussions. Peskov previously stated in January 2025 that Moscow was ready for nuclear disarmament negotiations with Washington, provided that the nuclear arsenals of the United Kingdom and France were taken into account. He asserted that it is 'impossible to hold a conversation without taking into account the nuclear capabilities of France and the United Kingdom'. In April, he further elaborated, suggesting that these arsenals are 'de facto controlled by the United States' within the framework of NATO.

While Russia and the United States possess the world's largest nuclear arsenals, France and Britain maintain much smaller stockpiles, estimated to be between 250 and 300 warheads each. Russia's insistence on including these arsenals adds a new layer of complexity to the already challenging landscape of international arms control and strategic stability discussions.