Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Local Syrian sources: The village of Al-Thala in the western countryside of Sweida was subjected to mortar shelling, with explosions heard in the area.
Occupied Palestine: Very violent Israeli raids target Tal al-Zaatar in Jabalia, north of the Gaza Strip.
Occupied Palestine: 15 martyrs were recovered as a result of the ongoing Israeli raids on the city of Beit Lahia and the Jabalia camp in the northern Gaza Strip.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in occupied Palestine: More than 300 martyrs and 500 wounded in three days of ongoing Israeli raids on the Gaza Strip.
Occupied Palestine: The occupation aims to ethnically cleanse the Sultan area near the Zikim settlement.
Occupied Palestine: The IOF is besieging a school housing displaced persons in the Al-Sultan area, north of the Gaza Strip.
Occupied Palestine: Dozens of martyrs and wounded, mostly children and women, in Israeli raids on the northern Gaza Strip.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in occupied Palestine: The Israeli occupation is committing genocide in Beit Lahia, north of the Gaza Strip.
Occupied Palestine: The Indonesian hospital is filled with martyrs and wounded after the IOF bombed homes in northern Gaza.
Occupied Palestine: IOF aircraft targeted a tent on Al-Madrasa Street in the Al-Mashrou area, west of Khan Younis, in the southern Gaza Strip

IAEA chief says Macron's remarks on nuclear use an 'erosion of norms'

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: Agencies
  • 7 Mar 2025 13:11
  • 1 Shares
2 Min Read

Macron said Wednesday that it was necessary to open a discussion on the use of France's nuclear weapons to defend the entire European Union.

Listen
  • x
  • International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi during a meeting with the Japanese government in Tokyo Thursday, March 14, 2024. (AP)
    International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Mariano Grossi during a meeting with the Japanese government in Tokyo on Thursday, March 14, 2024 (AP)

French President Emmanuel Macron's remarks regarding the use of nuclear weapons against Russia are "an erosion of norms," said Rafael Grossi, the General Director of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), on Friday.

EU leaders were set to discuss nuclear deterrence, among other issues, as well as assistance for Ukraine and European defense, during their Thursday meeting in Brussels. 

Macron, in a televised speech ahead of the meeting, labeled Russia as a "threat to France and Europe" and stated that he had chosen "to open the strategic debate on the protection of our allies on the European continent by our [nuclear] deterrent."

"A few years ago this discussion about nuclear weapons would have been taboo," Grossi told Bloomberg, adding that now such discussions are taking place in some countries and "it’s a constant erosion of norms."

Related News

Germany's Merz urges Europe-US unity on Ukraine war

Turkey’s rising military role cements its value to European security

Russia's response 

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov perceived Macron’s statements as a direct threat to Russia.

"If he considers us a threat, convenes a meeting of the chiefs of general staff of European countries and Britain, says it is necessary to use nuclear weapons, prepares to use nuclear weapons against Russia, this is, of course, a threat," Lavrov was quoted by state news agency RIA as saying.

In the same vein, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov reinforced this concern, interpreting Macron’s rhetoric as an indication that France seeks to prolong the conflict.

He noted that France’s willingness to consider nuclear deployment for security purposes signals "a very confrontational" stance.

Meanwhile, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova criticized Macron for making contradictory statements, dismissing him as a "storyteller" whose remarks are "completely out of touch with reality."

Read more: Macron says France, allies 'united' on Ukraine

  • Europe
  • Russia
  • IAEA
  • nuclear weapons
  • Emmanuel Macron
  • France
  • Rafael Grossi
  • European Union
Russia & NATO

Russia & NATO

As the Draconian Western-led sanctions on Russia exacerbate the economic crisis worldwide, and as Russian troops gain more ground despite the influx of military aid into Ukraine, exposing US direct involvement in bio-labs spread across Eastern Europe and the insurgence of neo-Nazi groups… How will things unfold?

Most Read

A boy draped in a Palestinian flag carries a mock rocket during a weekly anti-US and anti-Israeli rally in Sanaa, Yemen, Friday, May 9, 2025 (AP)

Yemen announces hypersonic missile strike on Ben Gurion Airport

  • Politics
  • 9 May 2025
Palestinians pray over bodies of people killed in the Israeli bombardment who were brought from the Shifa hospital before burying them in a mass grave in the town of Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip, Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023. (AP )

Gaza casualty figures mask a much bigger horror, new study shows

  • Politics
  • 11 May 2025
President Donald Trump, left, greets Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at the White House, Monday, April 7, 2025, in Washington (AP)

US pressures 'Israel' for Gaza deal; Witkoff's Israeli rebuke leaked

  • US & Canada
  • 9 May 2025
Two F-35 jets arrive at it's new operational base Wednesday, Sept. 2, 2015, at Hill Air Force Base, in northern Utah. (AP)

F-35 near-misses over Yemen signal new risks for 'Israel': Forbes

  • Politics
  • 14 May 2025

Coverage

All
Gaza prevails against genocide

Read Next

All
Syria's interim president, Ahmad al-Sharaa, listens during a joint press conference with French President Emmanuel Macron after a meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris on May 7, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Israeli, Syrian officials met secretly in Baku: Report

Israeli settlers lay on the ground as sirens sound amid the detection of a Yemeni missile, May 15, 2025 (Social media)
Politics

Yemeni missile halts Ben Gurion airport activity: Israeli media

500,000 Syrian refugees return since regime change
Politics

500,000 Syrian refugees return since regime change

Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, left, speaks with his Emirati counterpart Sheik Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan during their meeting, in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Monday, May 12, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Iran’s Araghchi: West chose talks after failing militarily

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS