Emmanuel Macron, the French president, has warned that Europe can no longer remain a "passive spectator" dominated by Russia, and the U.S. as talk of a new nuclear arms race escalates.

Speaking at the graduation ceremony of new French army officers at the War College in Paris, Macron said Europeans must understand the threat of "a new race for conventional weapons, even nuclear weapons." It was part of a speech setting out France's position as the EU's only nuclear power after the UK's exit from the bloc at the end of January.

Although France is actually reducing its capacity and now holds fewer than 300 warheads, Macron warned of a global hike in the number of atomic weapons following the U.S. and Russian exits from the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty.

The U.S. has also hinted that it will not renew or extend the New START (Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty), signed in 2010. It is due to expire in 2021. Macron said it was "essential" to extend the agreement to cut the number of strategic launch sites.

In a pivot from European diplomatic norms since Russia took control of Crimea, Macron has re-opened channels between the Elysee Palace and the Kremlin. "There can be no defense and security project for European citizens without a political vision that seeks to progressively restore trust with Russia," Macron said on Friday. 

"Let us be clear: If negotiations and a more comprehensive treaty are possible... Europeans must be stakeholders and signatories," Macron added, while reiterating that acknowledging Russia's importance did not change the strategic relations between Europe and the U.S.

Macron also made his position clear on close security ties with the UK after the Brexit transition period finishes in December, as "since 1995, France and the United Kingdom have stated clearly there is no situation in which a threat to one's vital interests would not also be a threat to the other's."

"Brexit doesn't change this at all," he concluded.