At the 561st meeting of the Council of Western European Union (WEU), held at ministerial level on 14 May 1980 in Luxembourg, the delegations discuss the repercussions of the Soviet invasion in Afghanistan for the development of East–West relations. The British Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, Peter Blaker, and the French Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Jean Sauvagnargues, agree with the Western countries’ strong reaction to the Soviet intervention and emphasise that pressure should be maintained on the USSR. But the policy of détente should be continued and dialogue should be pursued on matters relating to the prevention of nuclear war, disarmament and arms control. The British representative supports the ratification of the SALT II Agreement and the continuation of the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe.