But UK MoD Calls The Notion "Speculation"

Reports are surfacing out of the UK that Great Britain and France are getting ready to announce a plan to share aircraft carriers. The move reportedly would be taken to cut costs in the defense budgets of both countries, but particularly in Great Britain.

HMS Ark Royal UK MoD Photo

The Sun newspaper and others report Tuesday that British PM David Cameron and French President Nicolas Sarkozy plan to outline the proposal at a summit in November. Those who claim to be close to the discussions say the scheme would mean that there would always be an aircraft carrier under a British or French flag on patrol protecting the interests of both nations. There are times now that both of Britain's carriers are in port due to their age.

Among the possible snags, according to the paper, are protocols for use of a carrier should a British interest, such as the Falkland Islands, becomes a hot spot while a French carrier is on duty. But the cost of replacing Britain's two aging carriers is cited as a factor. There are two replacement carriers already under construction in the UK which are expected to cost about $8 billion, and an alliance could make it easier for the British government to cancel or downgrade one of the ships.

But another report from the UK Ministry of Defense calls the potential alliance "speculation". The international news service AFP reports that, while the new Conservative-Liberal Democrat coalition government in the UK has pledged to cut government spending and reduce debt, an MoD spokesperson said "The defence secretary (Liam Fox) has made clear that tough decisions will need to be made but the complex process of a Strategic Defence and Security Review will be concluded in the autumn. Speculation at this stage about its outcome is entirely unfounded."

FMI: www.mod.uk, www.defense.gouv.fr/english/portail-defense