Leading international efforts to build a ‘Coalition of the
Willing' to support Ukraine's future security, France and the UK
have today continued top level defence engagements with a meeting
of both nations Military Chiefs in London.
The heads of the defence forces for both countries, alongside the
heads of the Armies, Navies and Air Forces, will be discussing UK
and French efforts to galvanise the European response to the
situation in Ukraine as well as the growing defence partnership
between the two countries.
The third annual UK-France All Military Chiefs meeting comes at a
pivotal time for European security and continues the acceleration
of top level defence engagement around the Coalition of the
Willing, where the UK and France have been leading discussions on
how our military can support security guarantees for Ukraine's
future.
Admiral Sir Tony Radakin, Chief of the Defence Staff,
said:
At this pivotal time for European security the third meeting of
the British and French Chiefs of Staff should be seen as a sign
of reassurance and commitment. Europe's two leading nuclear
powers are stepping up to forge a stronger and deeper partnership
that has a vital foundational role to play in the security of the
continent.
Today's deliberations will help shape the future of British and
French military cooperation, and our shared efforts to support
Ukraine with military aid now and after any peace deal.
The combined convening power of Britain and France is immense.
The political leadership of Prime Minister Starmer and President
Macron is reflected in the military planning that is now underway
between our respective staffs as we draw together a Coalition of
the Willing from Europe and beyond.
This meeting comes after a series of high-level engagements
hosted in both Paris and London, with the Prime Minister
travelling to Paris and hosting leaders in London and the Defence
Secretary conducting simultaneous visits to France as well as
joining an operational planning meeting last week alongside the
Prime Minister at the UK's Permanent Joint Headquarters
(PJHQ).
The UK Is also set to host further joint planning meetings at
PJHQ in Northwood this week, where intensive discussions will
continue over several days.
Joint Anglo-French efforts to build political alignment and
collective agreement amongst Euro-Atlantic security actors is
essential to ensure that any Ukraine deal is adequately defended.
As the Prime Minister and Defence Secretary have both clearly
stated, a lasting peace in Ukraine can only be achieved if we
provide real and credible security assurances to deter Putin.
The meetings will also provide an opportunity for dialogue ahead
of UK-France Summit later in 2025. This summit will seek to
enhance the 2010 Lancaster House Treaties on Security and
Defence. These already provide the UK and France with a firm
foundation of in-depth military cooperation, unmatched between
European partners. The renewed treaties will be an ambitious
refresh of our defence relationship and at this time of
unprecedented challenge is vital to both of our security
interests.
This work will aim to deliver the further integration of UK and
French armed forces and include our shared Combined Joint
Expeditionary Force (CJEF) concept, which has given the UK and
France an unparalleled level of interoperability as
allies.
Keeping the country safe is the Government's first priority, and
an integral part of its Plan for Change. The work of defence, is
critical to the security and stability of the UK, supporting all
of the Government's five missions as a foundation of its plan.
