France's foreign minister has called for Britain to join the strategic Franco-German relationship.

In a TV lecture, Dominique de Villepin issued a call for unity, saying "Britain, France and Germany must act together as Europeans".

He called for Britain to play a stronger role in Europe and said that it would not be at the expense of relations with the United States.

Europe speaking as one voice could be a "credible partner" for the US, he argued.

Delivering the BBC's annual Richard Dimbleby lecture he said that Britain must play a key role in establishing a Europe-wide defence policy.

"There will be no Europe without European defence, and no European defence without Britain," he said.

De Villepin rejected fears raised by opponents of an EU defence force that it would be at the expense of Nato.

He argues that France's commitment to NATO is as strong as Britain's.

"It's our countries which are today making the most active contribution to the modernisation of the alliance. They are putting forward proposals, ideas and, most of all, providing troops."

His comments are the latest stage in a diplomatic process to ease tensions caused by the Iraq war.

The first stage of the initiative was the joint letter issued in September to EU finance ministers by Britain, France and Germany calling for reforms to boost competitiveness.

On Iraq, de Villepin calls for control of the country to be handed over to its people as soon as possible.

"Let us not repeat the mistakes made in the past. Let us not consider, as all occupying forces have always done, that an occupied country is never ready to recover its sovereignty," he said.

"We would be seriously mistaken if we were to think that democracy can be exported as if it were a mere set of formal rules."