France and Britain Sign Historic Northwood Declaration

On 10th July 2025, France and Britain signed the Northwood Declaration, marking the first time the two European nuclear powers have formally coordinated their independent nuclear deterrents in response to growing threats in Europe and uncertainties surrounding U.S. security commitments.

Key Points

Northwood Declaration Signed: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron announced a historic pact to reinforce nuclear cooperation following the French President’s three-day state visit to the United Kingdom.
Joint Deterrence Message: British Prime Minister stated that any extreme threat to Europe would now trigger a joint response, highlighting a new level of strategic unity between the two nations.
Oversight Committee Formed: French President revealed the creation of a joint oversight committee to coordinate nuclear policies while preserving strategic ambiguity and each nation’s sovereign decision-making.
United States Commitment Questioned: The agreement comes amid European doubts over NATO’s future and uncertainty surrounding continued U.S. military support, especially in light of past statements by former President Donald Trump about trans-Atlantic burden-sharing.
Europe’s Nuclear Dependence: France maintains an independent arsenal of 290 nuclear weapons and invests €5.6 billion annually, while the United Kingdom depends on U.S. support for its Trident missile system despite asserting operational autonomy.