UK and France Conduct First-Ever Joint Nuclear Strike Simulation

Britain and France have conducted their first-ever joint exercise simulating a nuclear strike, a move officials state is intended to strengthen coordination between the two European nuclear powers. The war game, codenamed 'Rummy,' involved Royal Air Force (RAF) Typhoon warplanes flying alongside French Rafale fighter jets over the Mediterranean on Tuesday evening.

News of the exercise was revealed on Friday by Catherine Vautrin, the French armed forces minister, who stated that "Having independent nuclear forces does not preclude coordination." She added, "Our nuclear cooperation with the United Kingdom continues to deepen."

While the drill made no specific reference to a fictional enemy, it is being interpreted as a pointed message to Russian President Vladimir Putin amid ongoing tensions and threats of nuclear weapon use from Kremlin officials supporting Ukraine. Wes Streeting, Britain's Defence Secretary, commented, "In an increasingly dangerous world, our adversaries should be in no doubt: the United Kingdom and France stand together in their commitment to European security and to maintaining the deterrence that has helped preserve peace for generations."

France's Armed Forces ministry confirmed that the drill was conducted in compliance with security procedures and did not involve any actual nuclear weapons. The French jets took off from the Saint-Dizier air base in northeastern France and were escorted by British Typhoons before simulating the strike.

This exercise follows French President Emmanuel Macron's announcement in March that Paris would expand its nuclear arsenal. He also launched an initiative offering European partners joint exercises and the potential for short-term deployment of French nuclear-capable assets on their territory.

France maintains a nuclear arsenal of approximately 290 submarine- and air-launched weapons, the world's fourth-largest. Britain possesses 225 nuclear warheads. In comparison, Russia and the United States each have over 5,000 nuclear warheads.