'Les Anglo-Saxons', F-I-G and the rival conceptions of 'advanced' armaments research and development cooperaiton in Western Europe, 1956-58

The article analysed the tensions between different visions for how Western Europe should organise its military research and development capabilities in the aftermath of the Suez Crisis, when European states, particularly France, sought to become less reliant on the United States for advanced armaments, especially in nuclear weapons. Specifically, it focused on the F-I-G negotiations—involving France, Italy, and Germany—and their rival conceptions of how advanced armaments research should be structured, particularly in relation to the "Anglo-Saxon" powers (Britain and the United States). The broader context of your research concerned European integration efforts during this period, particularly how different member states pursued divergent strategic interests in emerging technological sectors, notably nuclear weapons and missile development. This article contributed to a larger body of work examining Cold War diplomatic history, European defence policy, and the challenges of coordinating military and technological development among Western allies during the early integration period. It addresses the fundamental tensions between European autonomy and Atlantic solidarity that characterised the post-Suez period.