France warns of increased instability from end of INF treaty

France said Friday it regretted the demise of a Cold War-era missile pact between the United States and Russia, warning it would increase the risk of instability in Europe.

"France regrets that no solution could be found to uphold the Intermedia-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) treaty," a spokesman for the Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs said in a statement.

Paris also found it regrettable that "Russia has not responded to requests for explanations or calls for a consistent application of the treaty formulated repeatedly last year," the statement said.

The 29-country NATO transatlantic alliance has similarly rallied behind Washington, also blaming Russia for the treaty's demise, and said it hoped to avoid a new arms race.

"The INF Treaty was a central element of the European security architecture and of strategic stability in Europe. The end of this treaty increases the risk of instability in Europe and erodes the international arms control system," the French ministry said.

The ...