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In a historic summit held Thursday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron unveiled two landmark agreements: a joint nuclear deterrence pact and a pilot immigration program to manage illegal crossings in the English Channel.
The Northwood Declaration: Joint Nuclear Policy
In a bold move to bolster European security, the two leaders signed the Northwood Declaration, aligning their independent nuclear doctrines for the first time in history.
“Our adversaries will know that any extreme threat to this continent would prompt a response from our two nations,” said Starmer at the Northwood military HQ in northwest London.
Macron emphasized the strategic significance of the pact:
“No two other countries share this closeness on nuclear doctrine.”
While each country maintains control over its own arsenal, both agreed to coordinate strategy and policy on nuclear deployment, especially in the face of rising threats and an increasingly unpredictable trans-Atlantic relationship under a potential second Trump presidency.
The nuclear agreement is viewed as a cautious first step toward a more autonomous European defense, distinct from NATO’s American-led umbrella.
A Pilot Channel Migration Pact: “One In, One Out”
The second announcement focused on one of the U.K.’s most politically contentious issues: illegal migration across the Channel. Under the newly signed agreement:
Migrants arriving illegally by small boats will be detained and returned to France.
For every individual returned, the U.K. will accept one legal asylum seeker through controlled, secure channels, limited to those who have not attempted illegal entry.
This “one in, one out” pilot will return around 50 people per week — a modest figure given that over 800 migrants a week are currently arriving.
Despite its limited scope, experts called it a symbolically important breakthrough, marking France’s first formal agreement to take back Channel migrants.
Macron’s State Visit: From Pomp to Policy
Macron’s three-day visit included cultural diplomacy — including the temporary lending of the Bayeux Tapestry to the British Museum — and a banquet at Windsor Castle hosted by King Charles III, attended by celebrities like Elton John, Mick Jagger, and Kristin Scott Thomas.
However, the final day of the visit was all about hard power. The leaders conducted a joint video call with European counterparts to revive the Ukraine “coalition of the willing”, while reaffirming their commitment to building a Europe-led defense framework.
Strategic Differences, Shared Goals
While Macron, nearing the end of his term, focused on legacy and global leadership, Starmer — early in his tenure and grappling with domestic pressures — emphasized the migrant deal as a win on home turf.
“Europe needs to step up and take more responsibility for its collective defense,” Starmer declared, without directly naming Trump.
The nuclear accord updates cooperation between Britain and France for the first time since 1995, and signals Europe’s intent to take greater control of its own security amid fears of reduced U.S. commitment.
Migration: Political Lifeline or Limited Solution?
Analysts said the pilot migrant program may not deter illegal crossings unless significantly scaled up. Madeleine Sumption of the Migration Observatory at Oxford warned:
“At this volume, it likely won’t dissuade migrants who already believe they have a good chance in the U.K.”
Still, Starmer badly needed a deliverable after the Channel crisis fueled criticism from right-wing populists like Nigel Farage, who called the deal a “surrender” to Macron while livestreaming from a boat in the Channel.
Macron countered with blunt words about Brexit:
“The British people were sold a lie. With your government, we are being pragmatic. For the first time in nine years, we are providing a response.”
