The Russian Foreign Ministry has opposed Paris' plans to build a military base on the island of Mayotte

The construction of another French naval base on the island of Mayotte demonstrates President Emmanuel Macron's unwillingness to respect the territorial integrity of the Comoros. This was announced on March 27 by the official representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry, Maria Zakharova.

"We perceive the announcement of the possible construction of another military base on the island as a relapse of Paris' neocolonial instincts, and, of course, a clear demonstration of its unwillingness to respect the territorial integrity of the Union of the Comoros, its selective approach to the General Assembly and the United Nations," she said at a briefing.

At the same time, Zakharova recalled that the territorial affiliation of the island is assigned to the Union of the Comoros, in accordance with international law, as well as in accordance with the resolutions of the UN General Assembly of 1975 and 1979.

According to her, the military base already existing on the island of Mayotte is designed not so much to protect against possible external threats as to control the illegally held overseas territory.

The representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that Russia opposes the unjustified militarization of any territories, which has adverse consequences for the peace and security of individual regions.

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Earlier, on March 18, Macron announced that Rafale fighter jets with supersonic nuclear warheads would be deployed at the Luxeuil-saint-Sauveur airbase, located on the border with Germany in Luxeuil-en-Ben by 2035. He added that France is investing about €1.5 billion to modernize and adapt the airbase, in particular, the operational infrastructure.