Money and power – the argument for Anglo-French defence cooperation
By Phillip Souta
A talk was regularly given to new officials starting at the French foreign ministry, the Quai d’Orsay, in the 1970s. No question marks or exclamation marks were to be used in official documents. The Quai asked itself no questions and was never officially surprised. That guidance can’t have survived the changes of the last 30 years.
Vanguard Class Royal Navy SSBN. Photograph: Royal Navy
President Sarkozy and Prime Minister Cameron met in London today to discuss a level of military cooperation that has never been attempted or achieved before. Details of the results can be found here. Why now? Money and power – we are running critically short on both.
Our shared interests have been thrown into sharp relief by the prolonged financial crisis and our ebbing global power. We are fortunate enough to live in a world governed by rules on trade and the general conduct of international affairs that are largely of our own making. They benefit us hugely, but there is no guarantee that these rules will continue to exist. Read full article »