UK, France Expand Nuclear Cooperation in London
Senior officials from both nations met in London to deepen coordination between their independent nuclear deterrents.
Updated on Nov. 10, 2026 in Nuclear
The UK and France Nuclear Steering Group met in London, agreeing to expand cooperation on a range of technical capabilities and to begin reciprocal use of sovereign trials facilities. The meeting followed the UK's participation in France's airborne nuclear exercise Operation Rummy.
Why it matters
The steps extend a bilateral framework that has shaped nuclear coordination between the two countries since the 2010 Teutates Treaty. The group also reaffirmed shared commitment to the international non-proliferation architecture.
The meeting was jointly chaired by the UK Cabinet Office and the Presidency of the French Republic. The UK's participation in Operation Rummy was among the cooperative activities reviewed.
The players
UK Cabinet Office
The UK Cabinet Office is the central department supporting the Prime Minister and coordinating government policy, and it co-chairs the Nuclear Steering Group with France.
Presidency of the French Republic
The French Presidency is the executive office led by the President of France, and it co-chairs the Nuclear Steering Group with the UK Cabinet Office.
The details
Senior officials and military personnel from the UK and France met in London to discuss progress on deepening coordination between their independent deterrents. The group agreed to expand cooperation on a range of technical capabilities and to commence reciprocal use of sovereign trials facilities in each country.
Timeline
2010: Teutates Treaty signed between the UK and France.
September 2026: France took over the P5 Process presidency from the UK.
November 10, 2026: The London meeting was publicly announced.
Season Trajectory
The steering group operates under the 2010 Teutates Treaty, which established the bilateral framework for the two countries' independent deterrents. The expanded technical cooperation extends that framework into shared testing and trials infrastructure, including the joint testing facility EPURE.
The expanded cooperation could shape how the two countries test and maintain their nuclear systems in the future. Reciprocal use of trials facilities would give each country access to infrastructure located in the other.
The takeaway
Bilateral nuclear coordination can deepen through technical and infrastructure sharing while both nations maintain independent deterrents. The steering group's work illustrates how such cooperation proceeds within existing treaty frameworks.
What happens next
France assumes the P5 Process presidency in September 2026, a scheduled step in the group's multilateral work.
Further reading
Explore more on Nuclear developments and international deterrent policy.
