UK-France to unveil new military co-operation treaty

LONDON - The United Kingdom and France will today announce the creation of a new Combined Joint Expeditionary Force (CJEF) of around 6,500 troops from the both the countries.

The CJEF is the centrepiece of a new Anglo-French military co-operation treaty to be unveiled by British Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Nicolas Sarkozy in London.

According to the Telegraph, the new force is likely to include units from the British Parachute Regiment, the Royal Marines and Special Forces including the SAS, as well as their French counterparts.

It will have a single commander from one of the two nations, will train together, but will maintain separate bases in their respective countries.

Officials said the new CJEF could be used for missions ranging from humanitarian relief work to full war-fighting operations.

During the summit in London, Cameron and 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 also be extensive naval co-operation, focussing on aircraft carriers.

Cameron had earlier said that closer military co-operation with France is “in the long-term interests of both our countries”.

“To those who worry that this might in some way lead to sort of European armies - that is not the point. The point is to enhance sovereign capability by two like-minded countries being able to work together,” Cameron had said. (ANI)