LONDON, July 10 (Xinhua) -- British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said on Thursday that Britain and France have signed a new deal to allow the two countries to co-ordinate their nuclear deterrents for the first time.
Standing along with French President Emmanuel Macron during a joint press conference in a military base in Northwood, near London, Starmer said the two countries had signed the Northwood Declaration, a deal designed to show adversaries that any attack on either nation would result in a response from both nations.
For his part, Macron, who will conclude his three-day state visit to Britain later on Thursday, highlighted the importance of defense and security cooperation between the two countries, noting that times have changed in Europe and the Britain-France partnership "must change accordingly."
Referring to the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Macron said Europe must be able to rely on the strategic collaboration between Britain and France, Europe's only two nuclear powers.
A statement by Downing Street underscored the "extreme threat to Europe" that would prompt a joint nuclear response. "Any adversary threatening the vital interests of Britain or France could be confronted by the strength of the nuclear forces of both nations," it said.
Meanwhile, Britain and France plan to order additional highly lethal Storm Shadow cruise missiles and step up the replenishment of arms depots as part of a refreshed agreement, according to the statement.
On the issue of illegal migration, the two leaders unveiled a new "one in, one out" scheme to reduce English Channel crossings.
Under the scheme, migrants arriving in Britain via small boats will be "detained and returned to France in short order," Starmer said. In exchange, another group of migrants will be allowed to enter Britain via a safe, legal, and controlled route.
The new route will be subject to "strict security checks" and will only be open to those who have not previously attempted to enter Britain illegally, Starmer said. He described the plan as "groundbreaking" but didn't specify how many migrants would be returned.
Macron said he's "totally committed" to the pilot scheme, which will come into effect within weeks.
However, it remains unclear whether the scheme will serve as an effective deterrent. Despite joint funding and efforts, more than 20,000 people have crossed the Channel in small boats so far this year, marking a 50 percent increase compared to the same period in 2024.
Both Macron and Starmer are under immense domestic pressure amid rising far-right and anti-immigration sentiment. During his speech to the British parliament on Tuesday, Macron described the migration challenge as "a burden" shared by both countries. Enditem
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