David
Cameron has said new treaties on defence and nuclear joint working with France
marked a “new chapter” in a long history of defence co-operation.
A
UK centre will develop nuclear testing technology while one in France carries
it out and there are plans for a joint army expeditionary force.
After
signing the treaties with Nicolas Sarkozy, the UK PM said it would make
citizens safer and would save money.
But
Labour suggested it could limit the UK’s ability to act independently.
Mr.
Cameron said it was not about a European army or about sharing nuclear weapons.
“Britain
and France are, and will always remain, sovereign nations, able to deploy our
armed forces independently and in our national interest when we choose to do
so.”
But
Mr Cameron said the vast bulk of Britain’s military operations over the past
few decades had been carried out with allies and said co-operating on testing
nuclear warheads would save millions of pounds.
“It
is about defending our national interest. It is about practical, hard-headed
co-operation between two sovereign countries.”
The
nuclear treaty will establish a centre in the UK to develop testing technology
and another one in France to carry out the testing. Warheads will be tested by
technical means to ensure their safety and effectiveness, without having to
test them by explosion.
The
other treaty will allow the setting up of a “combined joint expeditionary
force”, thought to involve a brigade of about 5,000 soldiers from each
side, which will operate under one military commander to be chosen at the time.
The
UK and France have also agreed to keep at least one aircraft carrier at sea
between them at any one time. Each will be able to use the other’s carrier in
some form, certainly for training and possibly operations.
Mr
Sarkozy described the agreement as “unprecedented”. He said the
treaties would deliver “a truly integrated aircraft carrier group”
but dismissed suggestion that they would infringe on either country’s
sovereignty.
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