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Britain deepens nuclear ties with France and Australia
Britain's annual nuclear-enterprise update describes deeper cooperation with the United States, France, and Australia. The 2025 Northwood Declaration with France states that an extreme threat to Europe would prompt a response from both nuclear powers, while HMS Anson's 2026 visit to HMAS Stirling advanced practical AUKUS cooperation. The United States remains Britain's closest nuclear partner through policy, technology, and the shared Trident missile pool established under the amended Polaris Sales Agreement. Britain nevertheless retains sovereign control of its warheads and operates its deterrent independently, with the current Mk4A maintained by AWE and Astraea under development.