Britain and France to agree counter terror measures

Prime Minister Theresa May and French President Emmanuel Macron will meet alongside Britain and France’s five intelligence chiefs to agree moves to counter terrorism and boost defence co-operation. Heads of MI5, MI6, GCHQ and France’s DGSE and DGSI will meet for the first time soon. They will discuss how the UK and its allies across the Channel can work together to counter threats such as the targeting of concert venues like Manchester Arena and the Bataclan in Paris. The measures come as it was revealed May is to promise £44.5 million to strengthen Britain’s border controls in France. May will also commit to participating in Macron’s ‘European intervention initiative’ which officials regard as a plan to enhance co-ordination of existing armed forces. Britain will agree to send three RAF Chinook helicopters and roughly 50 non-combat troops to Mali. They will provide logistical support to French forces attempting to bring stability to ‘ungoverned spaces’ in African areas where Islamist extremist groups have gained a foothold. Brexit could be discussed as Macron visits the UK, but talks are expected to focus on the bilateral UK-France relationship. And the meeting will come after a key aide to Macron stressed France will ‘look with kindness’ on any future decision by Britain to remain in the EU. Theresa May, Prime Minister, said: “Today's summit will underline that we remain committed to defending our people and upholding our values as liberal democracies in the face of any threat, whether at home or abroad. "But our friendship has always gone far beyond defence and security and the scope of today's discussions represents its broad and unique nature. “And while this summit takes place as the UK prepares to leave the EU, this does not mean that the UK is leaving Europe. "What is clear from the discussions we will have today is that a strong relationship between our two countries is in the UK, France and Europe's interests, both now and into the future.”