UK and France agree security and defence cooperation

The UK and France have agreed to cooperation on defence and security, during the French President's visit to the UK.

The two countries will carry out a series of projects and enter new areas of collaboration, to underpin the defence and security relationship for the next fifteen years and more.

This includes plans to deepen the longstanding and resolute commitment to cooperation between the independent nuclear deterrents by expanding cooperation on nuclear research; coordinating more closely to uphold and reinforce the international non-proliferation architecture; and establishing a UK-France Nuclear Steering Group to provide political direction for this cooperation.

The two countries have agreed to launch the Combined Joint Force, overhauling the existing Combined Joint Expeditionary Force to refocus it on the Euro-Atlantic and warfighting at scale to deter.

They will embark on an ‘Entente Industrielle’ to enhance capability and industrial co-operation and develop new cooperation in every domain to enhance military interoperability and support NATO.

They will also reinforce the UK-France integrated defence and security partnership to deter and respond to the full spectrum of threats and enhance communications and institutional exchanges.