Britain and France sign defence treaties
British Prime Minister David Cameron today hailed a “new chapter” in the history of defence co-operation between Britain and France.
After signing two new treaties with French president Nicolas Sarkozy, Mr Cameron said citizens of both countries would be “better protected” as a result.
“Today we open a new chapter in a long history of co-operation on defence and security between Britain and France,” Mr Cameron told a press conference at the Anglo-French Summit in London.
One of the treaties would commit the British and French armed forces to work together “more closely than ever before”.
The other would increase co-operation on “nuclear safety”, he said.
“The result will make our citizens safer, more secure and better protected in the global age of uncertainty in which we now live,” Mr Cameron said.
The agreement would create a new Joint Expeditionary Taskforce - ``troops who will train and exercise together''.
He also confirmed the UK’s new aircraft carriers would be adapted so they could operate with French and American planes, and so that a joint UK-France integrated carrier strike group could be deployed.
Mr Cameron said the two countries would also work together on equipment and capabilities, such as Unmanned Aerial Vehicles and technology needed to counter threats from cyberspace.
On co-operation over the countries’ nuclear arsenals, he said a new joint facility would be built.
“While we will always retain an independent nuclear deterrent, it is right we look for efficiencies in the infrastructure required to develop and sustain our separate deterrents,” he said.
“Rather than both countries building identical and expensive facilities to ensure the safety of our nuclear weapons, we will build together a joint facility, jointly owned and jointly managed, sharing our knowledge and expertise and saving millions of pounds.”
Mr Cameron said: "Britain and France have a shared history through two World Wars. Our brave troops are fighting together every day in Afghanistan.
Mr Sarkozy said: “This is a decision which is unprecedented and shows a level of trust and confidence between our two nations which is unequalled in history.”
But he rejected claims that they would infringe on either country’s sovereignty.
“In France, sovereignty is as touchy an issue as it is in Britain,” said Mr Sarkozy.
“But together, we will be stronger, together we will do better, together we will better defend the values that we share.”
