France and the United Kingdom agreed to coordinate their nuclear defense efforts to support European deterrence against Russia.
The Northwood Declaration marks “the first time” that both nations have coordinated their nuclear defenses, Starmer said on July 10. France’s Emmanuel Macron and Starmer signed the agreement at a three-day visit by the French president to the UK.
“From today, our adversaries will know that any extreme threat to this continent would prompt a response from our two nations,” Starmer said.
European powers want to build the region’s military capabilities in response to Russia’s aggression in Ukraine. The European Union (EU) plans to deploy €800 billion for defense amid concerns about the US withdrawing from the region
“French and British coordination is something that Moscow will now need to factor in,” Léonie Allard, an Atlantic Council Visiting Fellow, wrote on July 16. For the US, the declaration “is a clear signal that the UK and France are taking unprecedented steps on their own to strengthen the defense and deterrence capabilities of Europe,” Allard added.
US President Donald Trump has questioned the burden-sharing of North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) members. He has criticized the trans-Atlantic defense relationship as one-sided and wants to see greater defense investment by Europe.
France, UK Create Nuclear Oversight Committee
Under the terms of the agreement, the countries will share intelligence to assess threats to the European continent. They will develop contingency plans to counter any aggression and retain independent control of their nuclear programs.
The two countries will establish a Nuclear Steering Group, led by the French Presidency and the UK Cabinet Office. The group will provide political direction and coordinate across nuclear policy, capabilities, and operations.
The two countries reaffirmed their support for the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons. They also expressed their roles as nuclear powers contributing to NATO’s deterrence.
“The United Kingdom and France must once again show the world that our alliance can make all the difference,” Macron said during …