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The Hill
5 days ago
- Politics
- The Hill
As US support for NATO wobbles, France and UK strengthen nuclear ties
Last week, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron signed the 'Northwood Declaration' committing themselves to 'deepen their nuclear cooperation and coordination.' They announced that 'a U.K.-France Nuclear Steering Group will be established to provide political direction for this work. It will … coordinate across nuclear policy, capabilities, and operations.' The agreement reflects growing apprehension on the part of both leaders that America's commitment to NATO is no longer as strong as it once was, at the very time that Vladimir Putin's Russia poses the greatest security threat to Europe since the Cold War. This fear is explicitly reflected in their respective updated national security strategies. Britain issued its 'Strategic Defence Review' on June 2 and France released its national strategic review on Bastille Day, July 14. Both documents have almost identical language when discussing the Russian threat, both stress the importance of their 'independent' nuclear deterrents to European security and both mention their growing cooperation and reference the Northwood Declaration. This is not the first time London and Paris have committed themselves to work more closely on strategic nuclear matters. As the U.K. review notes, 'The 1995 Chequers Declaration stated that there is no situation in which a threat to a vital interest of one is not a threat to both.' In reality, in the three decades since that earlier declaration, not all that much changed in the strategic nuclear ties between France and the U.K., despite some progress in the 2010 Lancaster House agreements. The reason is that there are fundamental differences between the nature of the two deterrents that are difficult to overcome. The British nuclear deterrent has been closely tied to that of the U.S. since the 1950s. A 1958 mutual defense treaty between the two countries (updated in 2014 and extended indefinitely in 2024) provides for the transfer of classified nuclear information, fissile material and technology from the U.S. to the U.K. and for Britain to use American testing infrastructure. But the history here is complicated. In December 1962, Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara, who in June of that year had called independent nuclear capabilities 'dangerous, expensive, prone to obsolescence and lacking in credibility as a deterrent,' canceled the air-to-surface nuclear Skybolt missile that Britain had planned to purchase from the U.S. Within days of the cancellation, and fearing that Washington wanted to undermine Britain's deterrent, Prime Minister Harold Macmillan reached an understanding with President John F. Kennedy that British nuclear forces would be based on American submarine-launched ballistic missiles that would carry British nuclear warheads. At that time, Macmillan asserted Britain's freedom to act on its own 'where Her Majesty's Government may decide that supreme national interests are at stake.' Nevertheless, given Britain's dependence on America for so many aspects of its nuclear program, it is not at all clear just how independent London's strategic deterrent really is, even when its 'supreme interests are at stake.' Britain remains constrained by the 1958 treaty should it wish to 'communicate classified information or transfer or permit access to or use of materials, or equipment … to any nation' without U.S. permission. That places significant limits on potential nuclear cooperation with France. France has no such limitations. French nuclear development has a significantly different history. The French deterrent has always been truly independent, to the degree that for decades Paris pursued a 'tous azimuts' or 'in any direction' strategy that, in theory, trained its strategic nuclear deterrent as much against the U.S. as against the Soviet Union. Unlike Britain's deterrent, which is explicitly committed to the defense of NATO, the French nuclear deterrent addresses threats to France itself, though that includes those territories in the Pacific, Indian Ocean and the Caribbean that are considered part of the French state. In light of uncertainty regarding President Trump's commitment to Article 5 of the NATO Treaty, Macron has dropped ever-broader hints that France might extend its nuclear umbrella beyond its borders, thereby more closely aligning its strategy with that of the U.K. Notably, Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz have announced the creation of a Franco-German security council, which appears to be the first step toward the creation of an extended French nuclear umbrella, though Macron has made it clear that final decision authority would remain with France. Merz has also sought a similar relationship with Britain that goes beyond London's more general commitment to NATO. In that regard, it is significant that both Britain and France deployed their nuclear submarines in response to Moscow's implicit (and on occasion explicit) threats to employ tactical nuclear weapons against Ukraine. It is arguable that the Kremlin took note of these deployments and as a result toned down its nuclear saber-rattling. Still, neither country is truly prepared to go it alone in the strategic nuclear realm without American support. Their forces are simply too small relative to those of Russia or, for that matter, China. Britain and France are clearly moving closer toward real strategic nuclear coordination, despite the limitation of the 1958 treaty between Washington and London. The Northwood Declaration may indeed yield greater results than previous avowals of cooperation. Their joint deterrents may prove compelling, as they appear to have been in support of Ukraine. Nevertheless, it is America's strategic nuclear deterrent, not those of London and Paris, that continues to undergird NATO. It is therefore crucial that Washington's commitment to support the alliance with its nuclear umbrella remain as strong as it has been since it was first extended in the early decades of the Cold War. Dov S. Zakheim is a senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies and vice chairman of the board for the Foreign Policy Research Institute. He was undersecretary of Defense (comptroller) and chief financial officer for the Department of Defense from 2001 to 2004 and a deputy undersecretary of Defense from 1985 to 1987.
Leader Live
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Leader Live
UK and France agree nuclear weapons can be used in tandem to deter Russia
The Prime Minister said there was 'no greater demonstration' of the importance of the UK-France relationship than the new initiative. The Northwood Declaration signed by Sir Keir and French President Emmanuel Macron, means that Europe's two sovereign nuclear powers would mobilise their deterrent together if threatened. The Franco-British move is designed to act as a warning to Russia. It comes as US President Donald Trump has called on European allies to step up their contribution to Nato, and as the US tilts its influence away from Europe towards the Pacific. Sir Keir outlined a series of joint military ventures the UK and France would undertake together as he and the French president visited the UK's military headquarters, Northwood, in north-west London. The Prime Minister said: 'Now as Europe's only nuclear powers and as leaders in Nato, we play a vital role in preserving the peace and security on this continent. 'So today, we've updated the historic Lancaster House treaty to protect our people and our way of work. This is a major modernisation. 'We are overhauling combined joint expeditionary force to make it five times larger, 50,000 troops strong, able to act across every domain. 'But with going further, this morning, we signed the Northwood Declaration, confirming for the first time that we are co-ordinating our independent nuclear deterrents. 'From today, our adversaries will know that any extreme threat to this continent would prompt a response from our two nations.' He said of the Northwood Declaration: 'There is no greater demonstration of the importance of this relationship, and while we stand together for our collective defence, we must also deliver a defence dividend for working people so we've agreed a deeper industrial partnership today to bring our defence industries closer than ever before.' Alongside the new nuclear pact, and refreshed joint force, France and Britain have both pledged to replenish their stocks of Storm Shadow missiles. Both countries have gifted the long-range weapons to Ukraine, allowing Kyiv to strike deep into Russian territory. The two nations also plan to work more closely on developing a successor Storm Shadow.
Telegraph
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Telegraph
Macron is quite the smoothie, but even bestie Keir wants him to put a sock in it
Emmanuel Macron's visit has brought about a new understanding between Britain and France. After 120 years, the entente cordiale, which always sounds to me like sipping lime juice under canvas, has been upgraded to entente amicale. All pals now. After listening to the French president bang on about it, I wondered whether entente prolixe might not have been le mot juste. My God, Macron is fond of his own voice. Not that those watching on television heard much of it. After a quick 'cher shir kya' the president's mic was turned down and he was replaced by a translator who spoke very rapidly for a long time but constantly sounded like he was trying to stifle a yawn. Sir Keir Starmer, who went first, had gone in heavy with the amicale, saying that Macron had been a 'firm friend to me personally and a firm ally to the United Kingdom'. The besties looked adoringly at each other, then Macron turned to the audience and gave someone in it a little wink. He's quite a smoothie. Starmer explained, with his odd emphasis (' the one-in, one-out proposal in which Britain can send illegal migrants back as long as we take an equal number who haven't tried it on. This may be limited, it has been reported, to 50 a week but he didn't give a number. Meanwhile, 220 people had arrived on Kent beaches by lunchtime. This plan, Starmer told us, would soon be 'operationalised', an appalling piece of jargon that he also used to describe his new Northwood Declaration that Britain and France may one day hold hands as they press the nuclear button together. 'This is truly historic,' he insisted. 'Quite serious diplomacy.' I was more concerned that we didn't already have a co-ordinated nukes policy. Better hope there's a northerly wind if Russia kicks off. Then over to Macron, who spoke for 20 minutes (12 more than Starmer), appeared to blame Larry the Downing Street cat for almost destabilising the talks – the one thing I wanted to hear more about – and said that loaning the Bayeux Tapestry demonstrated our new relationship, it depicting a time when several hundred people came over the Channel in boats and we couldn't send them back. Perhaps the policy they have embroidered this week will end with the motto: 'Hic Keir dux interfectus est.' Above all, though, Macron wanted to lay into Brexit and taunt those who had voted for it. 'You thought it would help ease migration!' he scoffed, adding an implied 'Pah!' Then up popped the one man in the room who is more long-winded than Macron and has an odder speech pattern than Starmer: ITV's Robert Peston. He delivered three long questions in two languages. The Wodehouse line about the 'shifty, hangdog look which announces that an Englishman is about to talk French' does not apply to Peston. He relished the chance to show off. A startled Starmer reached for his earpiece, perhaps hearing the word 'empêcher' (prevent) and wondering whom Peston wanted impeached. Macron beamed and then delivered another rant about Brexit. Maybe the heat had got to him, for he was curiously wearing a waistcoat on such a sweltering day. ' You were sold a lie on Brexit,' he said, arguing that he spent three euros on migration measures for every quid we spend and attacking those awful populists with their 'denial of science'. Many will agree with him but Starmer wore a pained expression that indicated he would rather Macron put a sock in it. Not helpful, Manu. He half-heartedly said that 'megaphone politics achieves nothing' and complained about those who just take pictures of the problem rather than dealing with it, but he was anxious to avoid discussing Brexit. Unlike Macron, he realises how annoyingly popular populists seem to be.
North Wales Chronicle
10-07-2025
- Politics
- North Wales Chronicle
UK and France agree nuclear weapons can be used in tandem to deter Russia
The Prime Minister said there was 'no greater demonstration' of the importance of the UK-France relationship than the new initiative. The Northwood Declaration signed by Sir Keir and French President Emmanuel Macron, means that Europe's two sovereign nuclear powers would mobilise their deterrent together if threatened. The Franco-British move is designed to act as a warning to Russia. It comes as US President Donald Trump has called on European allies to step up their contribution to Nato, and as the US tilts its influence away from Europe towards the Pacific. Sir Keir outlined a series of joint military ventures the UK and France would undertake together as he and the French president visited the UK's military headquarters, Northwood, in north-west London. The Prime Minister said: 'Now as Europe's only nuclear powers and as leaders in Nato, we play a vital role in preserving the peace and security on this continent. 'So today, we've updated the historic Lancaster House treaty to protect our people and our way of work. This is a major modernisation. 'We are overhauling combined joint expeditionary force to make it five times larger, 50,000 troops strong, able to act across every domain. 'But with going further, this morning, we signed the Northwood Declaration, confirming for the first time that we are co-ordinating our independent nuclear deterrents. 'From today, our adversaries will know that any extreme threat to this continent would prompt a response from our two nations.' He said of the Northwood Declaration: 'There is no greater demonstration of the importance of this relationship, and while we stand together for our collective defence, we must also deliver a defence dividend for working people so we've agreed a deeper industrial partnership today to bring our defence industries closer than ever before.' Alongside the new nuclear pact, and refreshed joint force, France and Britain have both pledged to replenish their stocks of Storm Shadow missiles. Both countries have gifted the long-range weapons to Ukraine, allowing Kyiv to strike deep into Russian territory. The two nations also plan to work more closely on developing a successor Storm Shadow.
South Wales Guardian
10-07-2025
- Politics
- South Wales Guardian
UK and France agree nuclear weapons can be used in tandem to deter Russia
The Prime Minister said there was 'no greater demonstration' of the importance of the UK-France relationship than the new initiative. The Northwood Declaration signed by Sir Keir and French President Emmanuel Macron, means that Europe's two sovereign nuclear powers would mobilise their deterrent together if threatened. The Franco-British move is designed to act as a warning to Russia. It comes as US President Donald Trump has called on European allies to step up their contribution to Nato, and as the US tilts its influence away from Europe towards the Pacific. Sir Keir outlined a series of joint military ventures the UK and France would undertake together as he and the French president visited the UK's military headquarters, Northwood, in north-west London. The Prime Minister said: 'Now as Europe's only nuclear powers and as leaders in Nato, we play a vital role in preserving the peace and security on this continent. 'So today, we've updated the historic Lancaster House treaty to protect our people and our way of work. This is a major modernisation. 'We are overhauling combined joint expeditionary force to make it five times larger, 50,000 troops strong, able to act across every domain. 'But with going further, this morning, we signed the Northwood Declaration, confirming for the first time that we are co-ordinating our independent nuclear deterrents. 'From today, our adversaries will know that any extreme threat to this continent would prompt a response from our two nations.' He said of the Northwood Declaration: 'There is no greater demonstration of the importance of this relationship, and while we stand together for our collective defence, we must also deliver a defence dividend for working people so we've agreed a deeper industrial partnership today to bring our defence industries closer than ever before.' Alongside the new nuclear pact, and refreshed joint force, France and Britain have both pledged to replenish their stocks of Storm Shadow missiles. Both countries have gifted the long-range weapons to Ukraine, allowing Kyiv to strike deep into Russian territory. The two nations also plan to work more closely on developing a successor Storm Shadow.
