The Prime Minister, President Macron and the British and French Cabinet ministers will gather in France 10 March 2023 for the UK-France Summit. Talks will focus on fortifying the partnership to tackle shared challenges such as stopping small boats, securing domestic energy supplies and protecting people against Russia.
At the first bilateral summit of British and French leaders since the pandemic and Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the PM and President Macron will discuss how to transform our deep and historic alliance so they are fully equipped to tackle the threats of the future.
Over the past decade, UK and France have been large European contributors to NATO. Both nations are permanent members of the UN Security Council and the only nuclear powers in the region. The UK and France have a responsibility to work together to guarantee Europe’s security.
Since 2010, the expansive defence partnership between the UK and France has been driven by agreements made in the Lancaster House treaties, which established France as the UK’s closest defence and security partner other than the US.
Under the treaties, UK and France established the Combined Joint Expeditionary Force (CJEF) which sees more than 10,000 British and French personnel ready to deploy together in response to a crisis. The CJEF sits alongside the UK’s other alliances in Europe including the Joint Expeditionary Force of northern European nations and NATO.
The UK will further the commitment by hosting the fourth gathering of the European Political Community, a meeting of European leaders with shared values to coordinate.
“Our deep history, our proximity and our shared global outlook mean that a firm partnership between the UK and France is not just valuable, it is essential,” said the Prime Minister. “As we face new and unprecedented threats, it is vital that we fortify the structures of our alliance so we are ready to take on the challenges of the future. That is what we will do at the UK-France Summit today.”
Currently, Russia’s actions pose the biggest threat to European, and global, security. The PM and President Macron will hold discussions on strengthening NATO to protect their people as well as bolstering Ukraine’s self-defence, now and in the long-term.
As part of their talks, the Prime Minister and President Macron are expected to agree to further enhance UK-France military interoperability and industrial cooperation, including agreeing to scope the co-development of next-generation deep precision strike weaponry – the kind of long-range capability which NATO needs to protect against the growing threat from Russia.
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