The Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon has announced that over 2,500 British troops will train with their French counterparts, participating in exercises spanning Eastern Europe to Kenya.
Sir Michael agreed the new training programme during his first bilateral meeting with Florence Parly, the newly appointed French Minister for the Armed Forces in Paris.
This month will see over 1,500 British soldiers from 16 Air Assault Brigade joined by troops from 11eme Brigade Parachitiste on NATO exercise Swift Response in Bulgaria, Hungary and Romania.
French troops will also join 1,000 UK personnel from 3rd Battalion, The Parachute Regiment on Exercise Askari Storm in Kenya in November, training on the prevention of instability and the spread of violent extremism.
Earlier this year, the UK and France signed a €100 million agreement to develop future long range weapons and are working together on an unmanned combat air system.
Defence Secretary Sir Michael Fallon said: “The UK and France have a long enduring relationship and that will continue as the UK leaves the European Union.
“We are deployed together in NATO, fighting against Daesh in Iraq and Syria and training together across the globe.”
The Defence Secretary also revealed that the RAF Red Arrows would kick off their European and Gulf tour in France with a flypast in Cannes.
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