Defence cooperation

Moving together towards a European defence capability

Permanent members of the UN Security Council, Britain and France are also the European Union’s two nuclear powers. Founder members of the Atlantic Alliance and Western European Union (WEU), the two countries are actively working in close cooperation to maintain a strong transatlantic link, establish a European defence identity and thus pave the way for European security.

They both recognize that anything affecting the vital interests of either Britain or France will also affect those of the other partner. Determined to maintain an effective, independent nuclear deterrent, they have both signed the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty. They are also party to the Non-Proliferation Treaty and Chemical Weapons and Biological Weapons Conventions which, with the other major powers, they are helping to promote and get ratified. The Anglo-French Joint Nuclear Commission, set up in 1992, is the main forum for strategic cooperation between Britain and France.

From the onset of the crisis in Bosnia, for instance, Franco-British military solidarity has proved effective on the ground and there are constant consultations both at operational level and in politico-military fora.

The Saint-Malo summit held in December 1998 led to a joint declaration on European Defence, paving the way to a common security policy.

France’s armed forces opted in 1996 to become fully professional, like their British counterparts. This will facilitate still further the already high level of exchanges between the two countries’ armed forces: over sixty exchange and liaison officers are on secondment to the headquarters, military colleges and units of the partner country’s armed forces. There are twinning agreements between the 11th Parachute Brigade (Toulouse) and 5th Airborne Brigade (Aldershot), and the 9th Marines Brigade (Nantes) and 3rd Commando Brigade (Plymouth).

The many regular joint exercises guarantee an excellent interoperability of the units and increase the cooperation and complementarity of the two countries’ armed forces, which frequently find themselves dealing with crises side by side (Bosnia, Kosovo, Afghanistan).

Defence Equipment, A long tradition of cooperation

France and the UK have a long tradition of cooperation in defence procurement. They have together conducted well-established collaborative programmes such as the Jaguar aircraft and Gazelle, Puma and Lynx helicopters. These include development of a Multi-Role Armoured Vehicle (MRAV), the Cobra counterbattery radar system, Principal Anti-Air Missile System (PAAMS), medium-range anti-tank missile TRIGAT and Storm Shadow/SCALP-EG stand-off weapon. Others are at the project phase, such as the A400M, future Military Transport Aircraft.

Armaments Europe is a further step towards building a European defence identity. Armaments cooperation is one of the mainstays of a defence policy designed to give Europe the essential technological capabilities for its strategic autonomy. On 27 July 2000, France signed the framework agreement for the harmonization and simplification of the rules applicable to defence industries, which is vital to provide support for the restructuring carried out by European firms. This Treaty implements the Letter of Intent (LOI), signed on 6 July 1998 by six Defence Ministers, establishing the framework for efforts to facilitate the forming of integrated, financially sound, commercially powerful and technologically innovatory companies which Europe needs. Both British and French Defence Ministries promote efficient collaboration practice in defence procurement international institutions, including in particular the Joint Armaments Cooperation Organization (OCCAR).

Recent developments

Two Royal Navy officers were honoured on 15 February 2002 by the award of the French Croix de Valeur Militaire for their service whilst under French command during the Kosovo campaign.

In London and in Ghent, in October 2001, the French and British heads of State met in order to discuss the future of Afghanistan and the fight against terrorism.

At the Göteborg European Council on 16 June 2001, the 15 European countries collectively became aware of the pressing need to fight proliferation, especially ballistic proliferation, i.e. that of missiles.

At the Anglo-French annual summit in London on 25 November 99, the talks focused on European defence. A joint declaration sets out ambitious targets for strengthening European military capabilities.

The Saint-Malo summit in December 1998 saw the signing of a cooperation agreement on crisis management and operations and the issuing of a joint declaration on European defence. This initiative gave a major boost to the discussions on a European defence dimension, which is a priority for both governments.

At the Bordeaux Summit in November 1996, France and Britain signed a letter of intent showing the extent of cooperation between the two navies. A year later, at the London Summit (6-7 November 1997), a similar procedure gave concrete shape to cooperation between the two armies.

During the State visit in May 1996, M. Chirac and Mr Major signed a declaration of intent providing for the setting-up of the Franco-British Joint Commission on Peacekeeping, which is now working on a regular basis.

On 30 October 1995, at RAF High Wycombe, they inaugurated the Franco-British Euro Air Group whose aim is to strengthen the two air forces’ interoperability, complementarity and ad hoc planning capabilities. On 1 January 1998, this became the European Air Group.