Anglo-French defence deal is a triumph of pragmatism over ideology

Austerity has delivered more than ever imagined, let alone promised, over the past decades of debate. In a triumph of pragmatism over ideology, David Cameron and Nicolas Sarkozy agreed to form a joint expeditionary force able to conduct "high intensity operations", and a joint aircraft carrier strike force. But they have also gone much further. Under the terms of an as-yet unpublished treaty, Britain and France will collaborate on nuclear warheads for at least 50 years. This is potentially the most significant, though the least visible, measure unveiled by the two. The UK and France will do joint tests on nuclear warheads. The Atomic Weapons Establishment at Aldermaston in Berkshire will develop hydrodynamics technology, while its equivalent, the Centre for Nuclear Studies, at Valduc in Burgundy, will do the actual tests. British and French scientists will regularly cross the Channel, even if the warheads will not, officials insisted. However, the officials also made clear that some questions remain about the nature of information to be shared. Kate Hudson, general secretary of CND, seized on them. The Non-Proliferation Treaty "expressly forbids transfers in relation to nuclear explosive devices", she said. "The fundamental point that both Britain and France have to recognise and act upon is that the NPT (to which they are signatories) requires both of them to disarm their nuclear weapons." Greenpeace added: "International law bans the sharing of nuclear weapons technology and obliges countries like France and the UK to eliminate their nuclear weapons, not keep them for another half century." Questions also remain about the plan for one aircraft carrier, either the British or the French one, to be deployable at any time. Cameron and Sarkozy avoided the question of how conflicting demands would be resolved. They did agree a "UK-French integrated carrier strike group", with French Rafale aircraft flying off the new British carrier, the Prince of Wales, and British-owned US Joint Strike Fighters flying off the Charles de Gaulle. It is not widely known that both the British and French carriers will be equipped with the necessary catapults and arresting gear, provided by the US. Washington, Cameron insisted, welcomes this co-operation, since Europeans will contribute more to Europe's defence. The defence industries, led by BAE in the UK and Dassault in France, concerned about cuts, will also approve. Cameron yesterday repeatedly referred to the millions of pounds to be saved by all these joint ventures. He insisted that even sharing each country's expensive nuclear warhead facilities would not undermine British sovereignty. He talked about co-operation "expanding sovereign capabilities". "Sovereignty does not mean isolation," said Sarkozy. Preserving sovereignty and saving money were yesterday's buzz phrases. The military, the most pragmatic of all, is likely to be cheering most.