Nuclear Testing

UK and France agree to joint nuclear weapons tests

The two leaders will announce plans for French planes to use British refuelling aircraft
The UK and France are to sign a treaty agreeing to the joint development and testing of nuclear warheads.

The plans will see one centre set up in the UK to develop technology and another in France to carry out testing.

Prime Minister David Cameron and President Nicolas Sarkozy will also outline plans, at a London summit, for a joint army expeditionary force.

Downing Street called the measures "practical", but Labour said they left "big questions" over the UK's defences.

Continue reading the main story
Related stories

Why Britain and France are co-operating
Brown urges Rosyth carrier work
Should Britain and France share defence strategy?
A Downing Street spokesman said: "This summit marks a deepening of the UK-France bilateral relationship. Ours is now a strategic partnership tackling together the biggest challenges facing our two countries."

The summit comes two weeks after the UK government announced cuts to its armed forces, in the first strategic defence review since 1998, as part of savings aimed at reducing the country's budget deficit.

Under the plans, £750m will be saved over four years on the Trident nuclear missile system by cutting the number of warheads.

Harrier jump jets, the Navy's flagship HMS Ark Royal and planned Nimrod spy planes will also be axed, but two new aircraft carriers were spared.

Mr Cameron and Mr Sarkozy are to sign two treaties - one on greater general military co-operation and the other on nuclear weapons.

I suggest we test them on each other.
I just love nuclear weapons, it's the only civilised way to go.
Now where's that button I was going to pre

The only thing that comes to mind when I read about these arms partnerships with France is "Just how many wars is it we have fought with France?"

Phil

Is that with or against or for?

"Against" of course, the ones we fought with didn't last very long.

Phil

One of Thatchers rare jokes how do you defend Paris don't know no one has ever tried