From the Times (London): That should not just mean the continuation of our strategic partnership with the United States but an historic enhancement of our bilateral defence co-operation with France, Europe’s other serious military power.

Britain and France are Europe’s two nuclear weapon states. If closer co-operation and a degree of partnership are on the table, that is to be welcomed. Other expensive military equipment must be harmonised wherever possible. Joint procurement should be more the rule than the exception. Our Armed Forces must work together in peace as well as in war. France’s return to full membership of Nato makes that much easier than in earlier years…

A new entente cordiale is required 100 years after the last one.

Excerpts from OpEd by Sir Malcolm Rifkind, former U.K. Defence Secretary and Foreign Secretary. (photo: Getty)