So France want a platform that has nuclear capability and can operate off carriers.
I don't think that France has yet decided if the carrier mission will be performed by the Next-Generation Fighter, or by a sub-variant of it. I understand that Dassault has put together 4 design concepts that are currently being worked through.
Let’s not forget, they are our economic rivals.
Any country offering an aircraft to the same market in which the UK is competing has always been our 'economic rival', EU or not (which I assume was the underlying message behind that comment).