Originally posted by the Voice of America. Voice of America content is produced by the Voice of America, a United States federal government-sponsored entity, and is in the public domain. Britain, France Sign Historic Defense Pacts VOA News 02 November 2010 French President Nicolas Sarkozy (L), and British Prime Minister David Cameron exchange copies after signing a treaty during an Anglo-French summit at Lancaster House in central London, 2 Nov 2010 Photo: AFP French President Nicolas Sarkozy (L), and British Prime Minister David Cameron exchange copies after signing a treaty during an Anglo-French summit at Lancaster House in central London, 2 Nov 2010 Britain and France have signed two landmark defense treaties aimed at closer cooperation on nuclear safety and military cooperation. British Prime Minister David Cameron and French President Nicolas Sarkozy signed the treaties Tuesday in London.  Under the agreements, the two countries will create a joint military expeditionary force of 5,000 troops as well as share aircraft carriers and nuclear test facilities. Mr. Cameron called the treaties "a new chapter in a long history of cooperation" with France, and pointed out that both countries have in recent years deployed troops in the Balkans and Afghanistan. Mr. Sarkozy hailed the signings as historic and unprecedented. Both leaders insisted the treaties will not preclude either country from acting independently on military matters.  Both countries have been forced into drastic defense spending cuts due to Europe's slow and uneven recovery from the global financial crisis. Britain last month announced defense budget cuts of 8 percent over the next four years. Together, the two countries are responsible for about 50 percent of all the defense spending within the European Union. The nuclear component of the agreement calls for scientists from both countries to use research facilities in Valduc in France and in Aldermaston in Britain. British officials say each country will maintain sole possession of any experimental data. Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters. .