International cooperation

May and Macron to agree counter-terror measures as intelligence heads meet

Theresa May and Emmanuel Macron will agree moves to counter terrorism and boost defence co-operation at a summit which will feature the first meeting of Britain and France’s five intelligence chiefs together.

The heads of MI5, MI6, GCHQ and France’s DGSE and DGSI will meet to discuss how the UK and its allies across the Channel can work to counter threats such as the targeting of concert venues like Manchester Arena and the Bataclan in Paris, and terrorists using the internet as a “safe space”.

The UK will also commit to participating in the French president’s “European intervention initiative,” which officials do not regard as a European army but a plan to enhance co-ordination of existing armed forces.