By Andrew MacAskill and Alistair Smout LONDON (Reuters) -French President Emmanuel Macron said on Tuesday Britain and France must work together to counter the world's many destabilising threats and protect Europe from "excessive dependencies" on the United States and China.

The two leaders are set to confirm details of a strengthened defense relationship at a summit Thursday. An agreement on tackling unauthorized migration may also be announced.

President Emmanuel Macron has called for Britain and France to move on from Brexit and work “side by side” on issues including migration and defence, declaring “let’s not allow the Channel to grow wider”.

Britain and France will join together to use nuclear weapons against any “extreme threats” towards Europe, Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron have declared. A newly-signed declaration by the leaders will state that the two countries’ nuclear deterrents are independent but can be co-ordinated in a joint attack on Europe’s enemies.

French President Emmanuel Macron has found himself in another awkward viral moment involving his wife and an airplane. A video clip showed his wife,

In response, Macron recalled the historical ties between the two countries and spoke about the Bayeux Tapestry returning to the UK, more than 900 years after its creation, with plans for it to be shown in the British Museum next year.

President Emmanuel Macron’s state visit to Britain, which began Tuesday, is heavy on pageantry. But both he and Prime Minister Keir Starmer hope for practical results.

French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, arrived in Britain on Tuesday for the start of a state visit as the two countries highlight their long friendship with conspicuous displays of military pomp,

The French president and PM Keir Starmer lay wreathes at the statue of Winston Churchill ahead of a state banquet in Windsor later.