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France: Military Alliances

Asked by James CartlidgeConservativeMinistry of DefenceTabled Answered 21 July 2025UIN 67098

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, with reference to the Government press release entitled New Storm Shadow and missile cooperation to boost jobs as UK and France reboot defence relationship, published on 9 July 2025, what assessment he has made of the impact of greater synchronisation of SSBN patrols on the UK sovereign continuous at sea deterrent.

Answered by Maria Eagle

The possibility of coordinating UK and French independent nuclear deterrents adds a further level of strategic ambiguity, complicating the calculations of potential aggressors. Any adversary threatening the vital interests of our nations should know that they could be confronted by the strength of the nuclear forces of both the UK and France.

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