Brexit won't harm Franco-British defence ties: minister

Published: 02 Jul 2016 - 12:00 am | Last Updated: 16 Nov 2021 - 08:03 pm

British Defence Secretary Michael Fallon (L) and French defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian (C) attend on July 1, 2016 a ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of the World War I battle at the River Somme at the Thiepval Memorial, northern France. Under grey skies, unlike the clear sunny day that saw the biggest slaughter in British military history a century ago, the commemoration kicked off at the deep Lochnagar crater, created by the blast of mines placed under German positions two minutes before the attack began at 7:30 am on July 1, 1916. AFP / FRANCOIS NASCIMBENI

Aix-en-Provence, France: French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian assured on Friday that Britain's Brexit vote would not affect Franco-British military cooperation.

"Brexit will not damage in any way the extremely strong defence cooperation that we have with Britain," Le Drian told reporters during a visit to the southern city of Aix-en-Provence.

"This partnership exists and will continue to exist. The British Minister (Michael Fallon), who I met this morning, has confirmed this shared wish to continue with this very strong cooperation," he added.

His comments follow reassurances from NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg a week ago, a day after Britain voted in a referendum to leave the European Union, that Britain would continue to play a leading role in the Western alliance.

Stoltenberg said Fallon, Britain's Secretary of State for Defence, had phoned him on June 24 to offer assurances that London "was not only committed to NATO but also to NATO-EU cooperation".

AFP