The Ministry of Defence warned ‘any adversary threatening the vital interests of Britain or France could be confronted by the strength of the nuclear forces of both nations’
The UK and France will agree to coordinate their nuclear deterrents in the event of extreme threats against Europe.
Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron will sign a declaration on Thursday to deepen nuclear cooperation, as well as agreeing to ramp up weapons manufacturing under a new “entente industrielle”. The leaders will agree that both countries’ nuclear deterrents remain independent but could be coordinated in the most extreme cases.
The Ministry of Defence said that “any adversary threatening the vital interests of Britain or France could be confronted by the strength of the nuclear forces of both nations”.
The UK and France are Europe’s only nuclear powers, with the UK’s deterrent provided by the Trident submarines, which patrol the seas ready to launch a nuclear attack. France has a deterrence force that can be launched from air and at sea.
A UK defence source said: “The UK’s nuclear deterrent remains sovereign and only the Prime Minister could authorise a nuclear strike. But stronger coordination means stronger deterrence to adversaries.”
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It comes after Donald Trump sparked concern earlier this year over the US commitment to defence of Europe. The UK and France have since led efforts to get allies to form a “Coalition of the Willing” that could police a potential peace deal between Ukraine and Russia.
Mr Starmer and Mr Macron will visit British and French troops on Thursday, and then host a call with allies from the 30-strong alliance. Amid growing threats to European security, the UK and France will expand its jointly deployable force, refocusing it on defending Europe and moving to warfighting readiness to deter adversaries.
The Prime Minister said: “From war in Europe, to new nuclear risks and daily cyber-attacks – the threats we face are multiplying. As close partners and NATO allies, the UK and France have a deep history of defence collaboration and today’s agreements take our partnership to the next level.
“We stand ready to use our shared might to advance our joint capabilities – equipping us for the decades to come while supporting thousands of UK jobs and keeping our people safe.”
Defence Secretary John Healey said: “The UK and France are stepping up together to meet today’s threats and tomorrow’s challenges. We are committed to driving defence as an engine for growth, delivering better fighting capabilities faster, and ensuring our armed forces can operate side by side – from the High North to the Black Sea.
“This partnership strengthens our leadership in Europe, ensures continued support for Ukraine, and sends a clear signal to our adversaries that we stand stronger, together.”
As part of the agreements, Britain and France will order more highly lethal Storm Shadow cruise missiles, while stepping up work to develop its replacement.
Both countries will also look into making drones and missiles more lethal using AI, by developing algorithms for synchronised strikes. Work is underway on developing weapons of the future, including plans to develop high-tech radiofrequency weapons such as microwave weapons and jammers that could shoot down drones and missiles.
The Government is pushing to drive up growth through defence manufacturing, boosting jobs in places like Stevenage where Storm Shadow missiles are produced.
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