Anglo-French Nuclear Cooperation and European Integration ------Proposal of “European Deterrence” after the Cold War
Date Issued
2002-07-31
Date
2002-07-31
Author(s)
DOI
902414H002001
Abstract
Anglo-French nuclear cooperation
began to emerge in a serious fashion for the first time with the end of the Cold War. As the European Union was created and it’s member states began to look at closer cooperation in the Common Foreign and Security Policy, the possibility of a Common European Defence Policy was also raised.Clearly, British and French nuclear weapons are central to such a debate. As Premier Minister Major and President Mitterrand pointed out at a press conference in 1994, “A European security policy without nuclear deterrence would be a feeble policy indeed.” From the beginning of the 1990’s, Anglo-French nuclear cooperation took two forms. The first was concerned with creating a forum for the exchange of information on nuclear concepts, strategies and policies, with a view to generating a larger degree of commonality; the second concerned collaboration over procurement. A Joint Nuclear Commission was established in November 1992, formalized and made permanent in July 1993. This Commission’s purpose was defined as being “to strengthen the specific European contribution to the deterrence which underpins the collective security of the whole Alliance”. And this Commission becomes the main basis for Anglo-French nuclear cooperation. The resumption of French nuclear tests in 1995 coincided with an increased emphasis in France upon the Europeanization of the British and French nuclear forces. During 1995, French officials began a new debate on the European contribution to nuclear deterrence in Europe. This led to the suggestion by French Prime Minister in January 1995 of the concept of . This concept would have the UK and France working together with countries such as Germany or Spain to construct a model of deterrence for the European Union. The nuclear weapons would remain under national control, but doctrines for their use would become European. The definition of “vital interests” for the use of nuclear weapons would also be European. A renewed debate about a future European deterrent was then launched, even if it remains extremely controversial. However, the future course of Anglo-French debate over nuclear forces is deeply tied to the course of the debate over European construction. The Amsterdam Treaty of 1997 revising the Treaty on European Union places the future of European defense very firmly in a NATO context. As long as Paris chooses to remain outside the integrated military structure of the Atlantic Alliance, and most particularly outside the Nuclear Planning Group, is likely to remain little more than a concept. There are clear limits, both in the Anglo-French relationship specifically and in EU politics more generally, constraining the development of a Europeanized nuclear force.
began to emerge in a serious fashion for the first time with the end of the Cold War. As the European Union was created and it’s member states began to look at closer cooperation in the Common Foreign and Security Policy, the possibility of a Common European Defence Policy was also raised.Clearly, British and French nuclear weapons are central to such a debate. As Premier Minister Major and President Mitterrand pointed out at a press conference in 1994, “A European security policy without nuclear deterrence would be a feeble policy indeed.” From the beginning of the 1990’s, Anglo-French nuclear cooperation took two forms. The first was concerned with creating a forum for the exchange of information on nuclear concepts, strategies and policies, with a view to generating a larger degree of commonality; the second concerned collaboration over procurement. A Joint Nuclear Commission was established in November 1992, formalized and made permanent in July 1993. This Commission’s purpose was defined as being “to strengthen the specific European contribution to the deterrence which underpins the collective security of the whole Alliance”. And this Commission becomes the main basis for Anglo-French nuclear cooperation. The resumption of French nuclear tests in 1995 coincided with an increased emphasis in France upon the Europeanization of the British and French nuclear forces. During 1995, French officials began a new debate on the European contribution to nuclear deterrence in Europe. This led to the suggestion by French Prime Minister in January 1995 of the concept of . This concept would have the UK and France working together with countries such as Germany or Spain to construct a model of deterrence for the European Union. The nuclear weapons would remain under national control, but doctrines for their use would become European. The definition of “vital interests” for the use of nuclear weapons would also be European. A renewed debate about a future European deterrent was then launched, even if it remains extremely controversial. However, the future course of Anglo-French debate over nuclear forces is deeply tied to the course of the debate over European construction. The Amsterdam Treaty of 1997 revising the Treaty on European Union places the future of European defense very firmly in a NATO context. As long as Paris chooses to remain outside the integrated military structure of the Atlantic Alliance, and most particularly outside the Nuclear Planning Group, is likely to remain little more than a concept. There are clear limits, both in the Anglo-French relationship specifically and in EU politics more generally, constraining the development of a Europeanized nuclear force.
Subjects
European deterrence
UK
France
Nuclear Weapons
European Union
European Integration
SDGs
Publisher
臺北市：國立臺灣大學政治學系暨研究所
Type
report
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