UK and France to sign formal defence treaty

A new programme of defence co-operation between the UK and France was announced by United Kingdom Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Nicolas Sarkozy on the 2 November 2010.

The programme would be delivered through an overarching Defence Co-operation Treaty, a subordinate treaty relating to a joint nuclear facility, a letter of intent signed by Defence Ministers and a package of joint defence initiatives.

This co-operation was intended to improve collective defence capability through UK and French forces working more closely together, contributing to more capable and effective forces, and ultimately improving the collective capability of NATO and European Defence.

France24, 2.11.10: British press fears for Falklands amid military tie-up with France http://www.france24.com/en/20101102-british-press-fears-falklands-amid-closer-military-ties-with-france-defence

United Kingdom: Ministry of Defence: Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/AboutDefence/WhatWeDo/PolicyStrategyandPlanning/SDSR/StrategicDefenceAndSecurityReviewsdsr.htm

UK: MoD: Press Release, 2.11.10: UK-France Defence Co-operation Treaty announced http://www.mod.uk/DefenceInternet/DefenceNews/DefencePolicyAndBusiness/UkfranceDefenceCooperationTreatyAnnounced.htm

Deutsche Welle, 2.11.10: Britain and France sign 'historic' defense treaties in London http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,,6184002,00.html

BBC News, 1.11.10: Defence chief welcomes UK-France defence co-operation http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11664400

The Economist, No.8704, 16.10.10: Anglo-French defence co-operation. Entente or bust http://www.economist.com/node/17254472

BBC News, 2.11.10: UK and France agree to joint nuclear testing treaty http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-11670247

FCO: Publications: Treaty command papers and explanatory memoranda: Explantory memoranda: Presented to Parliament 2010: EM on the UK-France Defence and Security Co-operation Treaty http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/publications-and-documents/treaty-command-papers-ems/explanatory-memoranda/explanatory-memoranda-2010/120FranceDefenceSec

EurActiv, 1.11.10: Austerity prompts UK, France to boost defence cooperation http://www.euractiv.com/global-europe/austerity-prompts-uk-france-boos-news-499324

EUObserver, 2.11.10: France and UK to sign historic defence pact http://euobserver.com/9/31174

Spiegel Online International, 3.11.10: 'Anglo-French Defense Pact Should Serve as a Model for Europe' http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/0,1518,726949,00.html

United Kingdom: 10 Downing Street: News, 2.11.10: UK and France open “new chapter” on defence cooperation http://www.number10.gov.uk/news/latest-news/2010/11/pm-welcomes-president-of-france-for-uk-france-summit-56505

ESO: Background information: RAF jets could fly from French carrier http://www.europeansources.info/record/raf-jets-could-fly-from-french-carrier/

Chatham House: Research: International Security: Current projects: Anglo-French Defence Cooperation http://www.chathamhouse.org/sites/files/chathamhouse/public/Research/International%20Security/0910pp_lindleyfrench.pdf

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