10-07-2025
The strategic hurdles for France-UK military cooperation
French President Emmanuel Macron's three-day state visit to London, which ends on Thursday, July 10, is intended to address environmental, cultural, and migration issues. However, the visit will also have significant military undertones. French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu was to accompany the president throughout the trip, which is set to conclude with announcements at the Northwood military base north of London, a base that houses the Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) alliance's maritime operations command.
Renewing military ties remains a challenge, even though the two countries' armed forces shared mutual respect and a strong culture of engagement – in Afghanistan and Iraq for the British, in the Sahel region of West Africa for the French. In the face of renewed challenges in Europe, both governments are seeking to highlight the strength of their partnership. They will hold a meeting on Thursday of the "coalition of the willing," the group of around 30 countries prepared to deploy military resources in Ukraine if a ceasefire is reached. However, options for deepening defense cooperation, including support for Ukraine, now appear limited.
