Plans for UK-France defense alliance driven by new strategic realities

Traditionally and historically, in most spheres, Britain and France have been fierce rivals for centuries.

Necessity, however, is the mother of invention and as the world changes and the state of global security continues to remain in flux, these unlikely partners are considering facing the contemporary demands of asymmetrical warfare and the shadowy threat of terrorism together.

High-level meetings between senior figures in the British and French defense establishments over the past few months have begun to lay the foundations of what could be a new defense alliance between the European Union's two major military powers.

This possible collaboration between the EU's only nuclear powers - and its only members with permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council - is a strong indication that European attitudes toward alliances, joint security and defense spending are being forced to change by external factors.

Budgetary pressures pushing UK, France together

One of the most pressing issues driving this possible defense alliance is the effect that significant budgetary pressures are having on British and French military spending.

Two simultaneous wars have drained the UK's coffers