France and the U.K. will now coordinate their nuclear deterrence strategies and respond jointly to major threats facing Europe. The agreement is expected to be formally signed on Thursday:
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The announcement, made during French President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to the U.K., is intended to reassure European allies amid uncertainty over the U.S.’s long-term security commitment to the region.
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The move signals a shift toward greater European defence autonomy, positioning French and British nuclear capabilities as a collective deterrent for Europe.
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Although both countries are NATO members, their nuclear arsenals have traditionally been kept outside NATO’s collective defence obligations.
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Combined, France and the U.K. possess around 515 nuclear warheads, far fewer than the U.S. or Russia, but still sufficient to serve as a credible deterrent.
This article was written by Eamonn Sheridan at www.forexlive.com.