Britain and France have carried out their first-ever joint nuclear drills, the French government has confirmed. The exercise, named 'Rummy', saw RAF Typhoon jets join French Rafale fighters in a simulated nuclear strike.
Exercise Details
The two air forces took off from the Saint-Dizier base in north-eastern France on Tuesday evening before conducting the drill over the Mediterranean Sea. The exercise was carried out without discharging any real nuclear projectiles.
The operation consolidates Anglo-French military co-operation, marking a significant step in the two nations' defence partnership.
Official Reactions
Catherine Vautrin, the French armed forces and veterans minister, described the drill as a 'decisive milestone' in the defence partnership between the two countries. She stated: 'Having nuclear forces does not exclude collaboration. Our nuclear co-operation with the United Kingdom does not cease to deepen: on Tuesday evening, Typhoon fighters participated for the first time in a nuclear exercise alongside Rafale fighters.'
Vautrin added: 'By co-ordination, our nuclear forces demonstrate they can contribute increasingly significantly to the global security of the alliance and the peace and stability of the Euro-Atlantic zone.'
Nuclear Powers
France and Britain are Europe's two major nuclear powers, with no other countries on the continent holding self-developed weapons of mass destruction. US-made NATO shared weapons are stored in Belgium, Germany, Italy and the Netherlands.
British defence secretary Wes Streeting confirmed this week's exercise was the first in which RAF jets had joined French forces for nuclear drills. He said: 'It's a landmark step in UK-France defence co-operation and a clear signal that we stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies on European security and credible deterrence.'
