France, Britain unveil nuclear weapons cooperation to counter threat to Europe

By Elizabeth Pineau

NORTHWOOD (Reuters) -France and Britain on Thursday agreed to reinforce cooperation over their respective nuclear arsenals as the two European powerhouses seek to respond to growing threats to the continent and uncertainty over their U.S. ally.

The announcement came after French President Emmanuel Macron concluded a three-day state visit to Britain, where the two allies sought to turn the page of years' of turbulence following Britain's decision to withdraw from the European Union.

"This morning, we signed the Northward declaration, confirming for the first time that we are coordinating our independent nuclear deterrence," British Prime Minister Keir Starmer told a news conference alongside Macron.

"From today, our adversaries will know that any extreme threat to this continent would prompt a response from our two nations. There is no greater demonstration of the importance of this relationship."

U.S. President Donald Trump's questioning of burden-sharing in NATO and his overtures to Russia have led to existential questions in Europe about the trans-Atlantic relationship and Washington's commitment to helping defend its European allies.

Europe's primary nuclear deterrence comes from the United States and is a decades-old symbol of trans-Atlantic solidarity.

Macron said the two countries had created an oversight committee to coordinate their cooperation, a task he said was vital.

"The decision is that we don't exclude the coordination of our respective deterrents. It's a message that our partners and adversaries must hear," Macron said.

The closer cooperation had nothing to do with their efforts to create a coalition of the willing to support Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire with Russia, he added.

While both sides will keep their own decision-making processes and strategic ambiguity, the move does suggest further protection for the continent at a time when the United States' commitment to Europe is under scrutiny.

Macron has previously said he will launch a strategic dialogue on extending the protection offered by France's nuclear arsenal to its European partners.

The U.S. has nuclear arms in Europe and tens of thousands of troops deployed in bases across the continent with military capabilities that Europe cannot match.

France spends about 5.6 billion euros ($6.04 billion) annually on maintaining its stockpile of 290 submarine- and air-launched nuclear weapons, the world's fourth largest.

Britain describes its nuclear programme as "operationally independent", but sources missile technology from the U.S. and depends on the U.S. for acquisition and maintenance support.

"On the nuclear agreement that we've reached today ... it is truly historic," Starmer said.

(Additional reporting by Sam Tabahriti; Writing by John Irish; Editing by Aidan Lewis)