France-UK To Hold Defence Summit In Early 2023

French President Emmanuel Macron on the sidelines of the COP27 climate summit in Egypt. AFP - LUDOVIC MARIN  

RFI: France-UK to hold defence summit in early 2023  

Britain and France will hold a summit in the first quarter of 2023 aimed at reinforcing their military and defence cooperation, French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Wednesday.  

Macron announced the summit while laying out his strategic defence priorities for France and Europe in the coming years. 

"Our partnership with the United Kingdom must also be raised to another level," Macron said onboard a helicopter carrier at the Mediterranean naval base at Toulon.  

Read more ....  

Update #1: France, UK to Hold Defense Summit in Early 2023: Macron (Defense Post)  

Update #2: France-UK to hold defence summit in early 2023: Macron (Expatica)  

WNU Editor:I find it interesting that French President Macron is trying to enhance these relationships bilaterally instead of doing it inside of NATO. This is also a shift away from all the talk of the French - German political/economic/military alliance that we have been hearing in the past few years.

Is It Wise To Depend On The French For Military Equipment?

The evident snub of a handshake offered by Mr Cameron to the French President, raised eyebrows

Relying On The French For Military Equipment, Mr Cameron? Is That Wise? -- Annabelle Fuller, Daily Mail

As the 30th anniversary of the Argentine invasion of the Falkland Islands approaches the Prime Minister has revealed that contingency plans have been drawn up to combat any threat to the Islands in the coming months.

Head of the Armed Forces General Sir David Richards has assured Mr Cameron that Britain will be able to defend The Falklands despite continual cuts to troop numbers including the controversial decision to leave Britain without an Aircraft Carrier to defend her overseas territories.

Read more ....

My Comment: The French are famous for saying "NON" when you need them. The problem with sharing is that you may find yourself in a situation in which you may not want to share. For example .... will the French be willing to entangle themselves in the wars and conflicts that the British may find themselves in .... are the British willing to entangle themselves in the wars and conflicts that the French may get themselves involved in .... hmmmm .... I don't think so.

A Landmark 50-Year Defence Deal Is Signed Between Britain And France

Britain And France Sign Landmark 50-Year Defence Deal -- The Guardian

Treaty envisages joint use of aircraft carries, 10,000-strong joint expeditionary force and unprecedented new levels of co-operation over nuclear missiles

Britain and France today signed a landmark 50-year treaty on defence and security that envisages the joint use of aircraft carriers, a 10,000-strong joint expeditionary force and unprecedented new levels of co-operation over nuclear missiles.

The deal, signed in London by David Cameron and the French president, Nicolas Sarkozy, has in part been forced on the two countries as they struggle with tightening defence budgets, but also reflects a level of mutual trust not seen for decades.

Read more ....

More News On The British - French Defense Deal

David Cameron hails 'new chapter' in Britain-France military co-operation -- The Telegraph
Britain and France to share nuclear secrets as Cameron and Sarkozy sign historic 50-year military agreement -- The Daily Mail
France and UK sign defence pacts -- Financial Times
France, Britain sign treaties calling for unprecedented military cooperation -- Washington Post
UK and France sign defence treaties -- Al Jazeera
Britain, France Sign Historic Defense Pacts -- Voice of America
U.K., France Boost Military Cooperation -- Wall Street Journal
British combat troops to come under French command -- The Telegraph
Anglo-French defence treaty: at a glance -- The Telegraph
FACTBOX-UK and France agree on military cooperation -- Reuters

Nicolas Sarkozy: Britain and France 'interdependent' -- The Telegraph
The Cameron-Sarkozy special relationship -- Gavin Hewitt, BBC
Q&A: UK-French defence treaty -- BBC
A closer alliance with France will be good for Britain -- Liam Fox, New Telegraph
Anglo-French military force makes 'perfect sense' – Liam Fox -- James Kirkup and John Bingham, The Telegraph
UK-France defence force: great Anglo-French disagreements over the years -- The Telegraph
Can we really rely on the French to defend our interests? -- Con Coughlin, the Telegraph

British - French Military Cooperation Is Now Official

Photo: The two leaders will announce plans for French planes to use British refuelling aircraft

UK And France Agree To Joint Nuclear Weapons Tests -- The BBC

The UK and France are to sign a treaty agreeing to the joint development and testing of nuclear warheads.

The plans will see one centre set up in the UK to develop technology and another in France to carry out testing.

Prime Minister David Cameron and President Nicolas Sarkozy will also outline plans, at a London summit, for a joint army expeditionary force.

Downing Street called the measures "practical", but Labour said they left "big questions" over the UK's defences.

Read more ....

More News On British - French Military Cooperation

Nuclear Component is Centerpiece of U.K.-France Agreement -- Defense News
U.K., France Move Closer on Defense -- Wall Street Journal
Britain and France to seal defence pact -- The Guardian
France, UK agree to unprecedented military cooperation -- Reuters
Defence groups urge France-UK tie-up -- Financial Times
UK, France to pool defense assets, share costs -- Washington Post
France, UK To Test Nuclear Weapons Together In France -- Wall Street Journal
U.K., France to Share Nuclear-Test Facilities, Carriers In Defense Treaty -- Bloomberg
The entente frugale: Cost-cutting 50-year deal that will see French take command of the SAS and Britain share nuclear secrets -- The Daily Mail
UK-France set to announce closer defence co-operation -- BBC
Britain, France to sign defence treaties: Cameron - -AFP
Anglo-French deal rewrites military history -- The Independent

Previous Post: A New British - French Military Alliance

My Comment: My passion is history .... especially European history. This news is one for the books .... and yes .... especially for the history books.

A New British - French Military Alliance

British And French Troops To Deploy Together Under Cameron And Sarkozy To Agree -- The Telegraph

British and French forces could be deployed together on combat missions in an unprecedented deal to save money being set to be agree by David Cameron and Nicolas Sarkozy tomorrow.

The British Prime Minister and French President will announce a new deal between the two countries to save money on defence across the army, navy and air force at a summit in London tomorrow.

The deal goes far beyond a plan for the two countries to work together on the two British aircraft carriers, which were given the green light in the defence review last month.

Read more ....

More News On British - French Military Cooperation

UK and France to sign formal defence treaty -- Financial Times
Defence chief welcomes UK-France defence co-operation -- BBC
UK troops 'to work with France' -- Press Association
David Cameron plans for British and French troops to serve in single brigade -- The Guardian
UK and France to sign defence treaty -- The Independent

A French - British Military Alliance

Military staff in Northwood, England, on Tuesday react to an address by Prime Minister David Cameron. The U.K. is cutting its defense budget by 8% and eliminating 40,000 jobs. Reuters

U.K., France Boost Military Ties -- Wall Street Journal

Britain Proposes a Close Partnership as It Trims Its Defense Budget; Sarkozy Supports New Venture

As it tries to dig itself out from financial crisis, the British government is seeking a close military partnership with France that it hopes will put an end to decades of mutual suspicion and help squeeze more out of its shrinking defense budget.

The British proposal to intensify the relationship with France, announced by Prime Minister David Cameron this week along with plans to cut the defense budget by 8% in real terms over four years, marks a potentially major change in approach for Western Europe's two most powerful defense establishments.

Read more ....

My Comment: I thought NATO was to accommodate countries like Britain and France who were concerned about their security situation .... sighhh .... both countries are broke, and are searching (desperately) to find some shortcut approach to a problem that can only be solved with money.

Despite British Denials, More Talk Of Britain And France Sharing Aircraft Carriers

Merge Our Proud Navy With The Feeble French? Whoever Dreamt That One Up Should Walk The Plank -- The Daily Mail

There was something very instructive about the state of this country's sea defences on the Royal Navy's official website last night.

As you might imagine, the overall site looks very impressive, and there are lots of pictures of ships and Royal Marines and managerial buzz-phrases such as 'Modern and Relevant'.

However, when I clicked on the box labelled 'Why do we need a Navy', up popped the words: 'Error 404: Sorry, the page you requested was not found.'

Read more ....

More News On Britain - France Sharing Aircraft Carriers

MoD denies UK and France could share aircraft carriers -- BBC
France and Britain in talks on warship timeshare -- AFP
Plans to combine British and French navies to be discussed in Paris this week. -- The Telegraph
Barking mad! Storm of protest over controversial call for Royal Navy to share aircraft carriers with the French -- The Daily Mail
Report: UK, France closer to carrier sharing deal -- Bloomberg Businessweek
Britain, France mull plan to pool naval forces -- Polijam Times
France, UK in talks on warship timeshare -- Sydney Morning Herald/AFP
Britain and France 'may share carriers' -- Defense Management
Britain and France to pool naval forces? -- UPI
D'ya Need The Aircraft Carrier Today, Honey? -- Forbes
U.K. and France Must Bury Age-Old Animosities at Sea -- Wall Street Journal
To share or not to share -- Jeff Taylor, Economic Voice

My Comment: Thank God Lord Nelson is not around to see this discussed .... let alone happening. Alas .... times change .... and British - French relations .... after centuries of war and conflict .... this is now all history, with fights and brawls isolated over football/soccer games, and the odd derogatory comment from the other side.

Britain And France To Share Aircraft Carriers

HMS Illustrious, a British aircraft carrier, passes London's financial district in Canary Wharf before docking at Greenwhich November 4, 2008. Credit: Reuters/Kevin Coombs

Britain, France To Share Aircraft Carriers -- Reuters

(Reuters) - Britain and France are getting ready to unveil plans to share aircraft carriers amid pressure on the British military to cut costs, the Times reported on Tuesday.

Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Nicholas Sarkozy were expected to announce the proposal at a November summit, the Times said, quoting an unidentified British naval source for its information.

No immediate comment was available from British officials on the report.

Earlier this month, a Defence Ministry source told Reuters that Britain might cancel one or both of its planned new aircraft carriers to cut costs, though there were no plans to scale back the country's nuclear deterrent.

Read more ....

More News On England And France Sharing Aircraft Carriers

Britain, France 'plan defence pact' -- Press Association
UK and France to share aircraft carriers -- The Sun
Plan to share aircraft carriers with France -- The Independent
Jump jets to fall victim to spending cuts -- The Telegraph

My Comment: Britain and France working together .... hmmm .... I guess cats and dogs can live together.