British jets join French nuclear deterrence exercise for 1st time

British Typhoon fighter jets have joined a French nuclear deterrence exercise for the first time, French Armed Forces Minister Catherine Vautrin said Friday.

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 said on US social media company X.

She called it “a decisive milestone” in bilateral defense cooperation, demonstrating “the coordination and commitment of the two European nuclear powers to Europe’s security and credible deterrence.”

The drill follows the Northwood agreement signed by France and Britain in July 2025, which provides for closer coordination between their nuclear deterrents while preserving independent national decision-making.

The cooperation comes amid concerns over European security and efforts to strengthen the continent’s deterrence capabilities.

France has also sought to broaden cooperation with European partners through an initiative President Emmanuel Macron outlined on March 2 at the Ile Longue submarine base near Brest.

The initiative aims to strengthen the European dimension of France’s nuclear deterrent while keeping the authority to use nuclear weapons exclusively with the French president.

Poland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Greece, Sweden, Denmark, Norway, and Finland have joined or expressed interest in the initiative, according to French broadcaster BFMTV.

Exercise 'marks a new chapter'

In a statement on the unprecedented exercise, the British Defense Ministry said the country's defenses "are being strengthened" by the drill.

"Launching from Saint-Dizier Air Base in France, French Rafale simulated a nuclear strike mission, escorted by RAF Typhoons," it said, adding that the exercise focused on improving how their forces work together in case the UK faces a "serious threat."

It said the exercise complements the work the UK is doing to invest £63 billion ($84.2 billion) over the next four years to strengthen the UK’s nuclear deterrent, funding Dreadnought and SSN-AUKUS submarines, a new warhead, and other vital nuclear work.

"This exercise marks a new chapter in the defence nuclear relationship between the United Kingdom and France," Defense Secretary Wes Streeting said in the statement.

As Europe’s nuclear powers, the UK and France have a "shared responsibility" to contribute to the security and stability of the Euro-Atlantic region, he said.

"In an increasingly dangerous world, our adversaries should be in no doubt: the UK and France remain united in our commitment to European security and to maintaining the deterrence that has helped preserve peace for generations," added the defense chief.