From James Kirkup, the Telegraph: David Cameron will today announce the creation of a new Combined Joint Expeditionary Force (CJEF) of around 6,500 troops from the two countries. …
The CJEF is the centrepiece of a new Anglo-French military co-operation treaty to be unveiled today by Mr Cameron and President Nicolas Sarkozy. …
It will be made up of British and French units that will train together but maintain separate bases in their respective countries. …
Its commander will then report to a new combined headquarters, answerable to ministers in London and Paris. …
Mr Cameron and Mr Sarkozy will also pledge co-operation across the full range of military capabilities, including transport and refuelling aircraft, submarine technology, satellite communications and unmanned aerial drones.
There will be extensive naval co-operation, focussing on aircraft carriers.
Each country is set to have only one functioning carrier by the end of the decade. So London and Paris will co-ordinate the maintenance schedules for their ships, ensuring that one carrier is always in service and potentially available for joint operations.
French warplanes could also fly from Britain’s carrier, sources said.
A separate nuclear accord will see British nuclear scientists working at a French facility to conduct tests on the safety and reliability of warheads from both nations.
French experts will meanwhile be stationed to the Atomic Weapons Establishment at Aldermaston to develop new warhead technology.
British sources confirmed that the deal – forecast to save tens of millions of pounds a year — will mean revealing some nuclear secrets to France. “We will be sharing more than we have in the past,” said a senior official. (photo: AP)
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