Starmer, Macron announce closer UK-France nuclear weapons coordination

French President Emmanuel Macron and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer suggested they are ready to use nuclear weapons to protect European allies against possible Russian aggression. 

The declaration, made during Macron’s visit to the United Kingdom, brings NATO's two European nuclear powers into closer synch, amid concerns over the United States’ future role in European defence. 

“We cannot imagine a situation of extreme threat to Europe that would not justify a rapid response on our part, whatever the nature of that response may be,” Macron said on Thursday evening after meeting with Starmer. 

Macron said that “this is a message to our partners, and our adversaries”. 

 The French and British also agreed to set up a joint Nuclear Supervisory Group, another step toward strengthening nuclear ties between the countries without the involvement of the US, NATO's dominant power. 

Closer nuclear ties between France and the UK mark at least a small shift for European nuclear defence independent of the United States. France has long guarded the independence of its nuclear weapons programme and – unlike Britain – has resisted integrating into US-led NATO structures.

Both French and British "nuclear forces, which are independent, can nevertheless be coordinated", an Elysée source told Euractiv ahead of the announcement.

The group's goal will be "to coordinate cooperation between the two countries in terms of policy, capabilities and operations", the source said.

The UK's nuclear forces are part of the NATO Nuclear Planning Group, which also includes the US. Last month, the UK announced plans to purchase variants of the US-made F-35 fighter jet capable of carrying both British and American nuclear weapons.

The French have long far refused to participate in the NATO-wide nuclear coordination, with the goal of operating more independently from Washington.

Some European allies have turned toward Paris in recent months for initial discussions about extending the French nuclear umbrella, driven by concerns that Donald Trump will reduce American forces on the continent and make Washington an unreliable ally.

Poland has approached Paris, and Germany also reached out to both France and the UK over nuclear weapons sharing. Paris has traditionally maintained ambiguity about whether French nuclear doctrine would protect European allies.

Though exact figures are confidential, the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (SIPRI) estimates that France has a nuclear arsenal of around 290 warheads, of which 280 are deployed and ready for use. The institute estimated the UK's arsenal at 225 warheads, of which 120 are deployed.

The numbers pale in comparison to Russia, with an estimated 5,889 warheads, and the US, with 5,224. But a number of strategic experts consider the French and British nuclear forces an adequate national deterrent.

This story was updated following the public announcement.

(bts/om)