France and the United Kingdom are ready to "coordinate" their nuclear deterrence and protect Europe

Sovereignty over the decision to launch nuclear weapons remains intact, but "any adversary threatening the vital interests of the United Kingdom or France could be confronted with the power of the nuclear forces of both nations," the two countries assert.

A major development in nuclear doctrine on both sides of the Channel. France and the United Kingdom are ready to "coordinate" their nuclear deterrence and protect Europe from any "extreme threat," the two countries announced on Wednesday, July 9. Sovereignty over the decision to launch nuclear fire remains intact, but "any adversary threatening the vital interests of the United Kingdom or France could be confronted with the power of the nuclear forces of both nations," they assert.

During a state visit to the United Kingdom, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will sign a new declaration on Thursday, July 10, which "will affirm for the first time that the respective means of deterrence of the two countries are independent but can be coordinated," the British Ministry of Defense and the French presidency specified. They added that "there is no extreme threat to Europe that would not provoke a response from both countries," without specifying the nature of this response.

According to the French presidency, a "nuclear oversight group," co-chaired by the Elysée Palace and the British Cabinet Office, will be responsible for "coordinating growing cooperation in the areas of policy, capabilities, and operations." It has been 30 years since the so-called "Chequers" joint declaration in 1995 that the United Kingdom and France – the only nuclear powers in Western Europe – have not changed the principle governing their cooperation on deterrence.

Since then, the security and military context in Europe has changed, particularly since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022. Uncertainty over the United States' commitment to its European allies and NATO under President Donald Trump has also prompted several countries to question the strength of the American security guarantee.