Weinberger Praises French for Defense Boost, Nuclear Increase
Defense Secretary Caspar W. Weinberger praised the French government today for approving a five-year defense budget that includes a significant increase in the country’s nuclear arsenal.
Weinberger, holding the first of two days of consultations with French leaders, called the spending plan “clearly necessary because of the world situation.”
The defense secretary met this morning with Premier Jacques Chirac, then proceeded immediately to a full afternoon of closed-door talks with Defense Minister Andre Giraud. High-ranking officials at the U.S. Embassy said they expected Giraud to stress French concerns about President Reagan’s proposal to eliminate ballistic nuclear missiles within 10 years.
The proposal disturbs the French, who have long based their own national security on the maintenance of an independent nuclear arsenal, one official said.
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