The UK and France have agreed to strengthen defence cooperation following a Summit at RAF Brize Norton today. A communiqué signed by the Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Francois Hollande sets out plans for closer ties between the two countries.
Building on the Lancaster House treaties signed in 2010, the agreements further the security and prosperity of the two nations through commitments to jointly invest in the procurement of defence equipment, the joint training of Armed Forces and the continued development of the Anglo French joint expeditionary force.
Both countries have today signed:
- a Statement of Intent for a Future Combat Air System which would launch a 2 year £120m joint feasibility phase that will see British and French industries working together;
- technical arrangements for our exchange programme to provide RAF pilots and engineers with experience of operating the A400M ahead of the delivery of the UK’s first aircraft later this year; and for French pilots to gain flying experience on the RAF’s A330 Voyager aircraft;
- a Memorandum of Understanding confirming joint orders for a future helicopter launched Anti Surface Guided Weapon for our Navies.
Agreements have also been reached that will see:
- a £10m contract for the development of underwater vehicles capable of finding and neutralising seabed mines;
- investment in the Atomic Weapons Establishment in Aldermaston, Berkshire to allow collaboration on and safe testing of UK and French stockpiles and greater sharing of technical and scientific data to further joint research;
- further cooperation between the Armies in the areas of equipment capability and interoperability.
Both countries also agreed to build on international peacekeeping missions carried out by their respective forces in Libya, Mali, and the Central African Republic.
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond and his counterpart Jean-Yves Le Drian agreed to continue the development of a Combined Joint Expeditionary Force capable of carrying out co-ordinated expeditionary military operations. The two nations also agreed joint efforts to tackle security issues in North and West Africa, in particular terrorism as well as drug and arms trafficking to achieve long term stability in the regions.
Defence Secretary Philip Hammond said:
“Britain and France are natural partners for Defence cooperation. We have made substantial progress since the Lancaster House Treaty was signed in 2010 and today we have committed ourselves to go further still.
“The agreements we have reached at this Summit will improve the inter-operability of our forces, enhance our joint equipment procurement and build on our capacity to support security and stability in places such as Libya, Mali and the Central African Republic.”
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