Saint-Dizier:London British Typhoon fighter jets have participated in a French nuclear deterrence exercise for the first time, a move announced by French Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin.
According to Anadolu Agency – English, Royal Air Force Typhoons flew alongside French Rafale jets in a drill organized by the air force units responsible for France's airborne nuclear deterrent. Vautrin highlighted this event as 'a decisive milestone' in bilateral defense cooperation, emphasizing the coordination and commitment of the two European nuclear powers to Europe's security and credible deterrence.
The exercise follows the Northwood agreement signed in July 2025 between France and Britain, aiming for closer coordination between their nuclear deterrents while maintaining independent national decision-making. This cooperation comes amid heightened concerns over European security and efforts to enhance the continent's deterrence capabilities.
France is also seeking to expand cooperation with European partners through an initiative outlined by President Emmanuel Macron. This initiative aims to strengthen the European dimension of France's nuclear deterrent, retaining exclusive authority for nuclear weapon use with the French president. Countries such as Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Finland have joined or shown interest in this initiative.
In a statement regarding the exercise, the British Defense Ministry noted that the country's defenses "are being strengthened" by the drill. The exercise, which launched from Saint-Dizier Air Base in France, simulated a nuclear strike mission with French Rafale jets, escorted by RAF Typhoons. This drill is part of the UK's broader investment of £63 billion ($84.2 billion) over the next four years to reinforce its nuclear deterrent, including the funding of Dreadnought and SSN-AUKUS submarines, a new warhead, and other vital nuclear initiatives.
Defense Secretary Wes Streeting described the exercise as marking a new chapter in the defense nuclear relationship between the United Kingdom and France. He reaffirmed the shared responsibility of both nations, as Europe's nuclear powers, to contribute to the security and stability of the Euro-Atlantic region. Streeting stressed that in an increasingly dangerous world, adversaries should have no doubt about the united commitment of the UK and France to European security and maintaining a deterrence that has preserved peace for generations.