French and British air forces have for the first time staged a joint exercise simulating a nuclear strike, the countries' defense ministries said in a statement on Friday.
The exercise, codenamed "Rummy" and which took place on Tuesday, involved RAF Typhoon fighter jets alongside French Rafale aircraft over the Mediterranean Sea, it said.
The exercise was conducted in compliance with security procedures, did not involve any actual nuclear weapons and was aimed at enhancing coordination between western Europe's two nuclear powers, the statement added.
After taking off from a base in northeastern France, "the French Rafales, escorted by RAF Typhoons, conducted a simulated nuclear strike", it said.
The exercise comes with tensions remaining high between NATO powers and nuclear-armed Russia some four-and-a-half year's into Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
French President Emmanuel Macron has offered to extend the protection of France's nuclear deterrent to other European allies, as the European Union's only nuclear power since Brexit.
French Defense Minister Catherine Vautrin noted that "possessing independent nuclear forces does not preclude coordination".
The joint exercise with Britain showed "our nuclear forces demonstrate that they can contribute even more significantly to the overall security" of NATO, she added.
Quoted in the French-language version of the joint statement, UK Defense Minister Wes Streeting said the exercise marked a "new chapter" in the relationship between Britain and France on nuclear defense.
"This exercise demonstrates the depth of our partnership, the credibility of our deterrents and our determination to remain united in the face of emerging threats," he said.
Writing on his X account, Streeting added: "It's a landmark step in UK-France defense cooperation, and a clear signal that we stand shoulder to shoulder with our allies on European security and credible deterrence."
