Defense: London and Paris plan cooperation on nuclear deterrence

Great Britain and France plan to sign a declaration that will allow for the coordination of both countries' nuclear deterrents to respond jointly to any "extreme threat to Europe." The agreement confirms for the first time "that the deterrents of both countries are independent under national control, but can be coordinated," the British Ministry of Defense and the French Presidency said in a statement on Thursday night.

The agreement is expected to be signed on Thursday at a meeting between French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in London.

Macron is currently on a state visit to the United Kingdom. It is the first state visit by a European head of state to the UK since Brexit. Ministers from both sides are expected to attend the meeting on Thursday. Ahead of the talks, both countries announced their intention to "refresh" their defense relations.

"As close partners and NATO allies, the UK and France have a long history of defence cooperation, and today's agreements take our partnership to a new level," Starmer said, according to the statement.