Starmer stresses urgency' of closer defence ties with Europe at Munich conference

"Keir Starmer said there was an urgent need for a closer UK defence relationship with Europe, covering procurement and manufacturing, so that the UK is at the centre of a stronger European defence setup. In a rare visit to the Munich Security Conference, the British prime minister told the audience, to applause, we are 10 years on from Brexit. We are not the Britain of the Brexit years."

"The UK and France, often the country seen as the most resistant to non-EU states accessing the European defence market, are both keen to reopen talks about the UK joining Security Action for Europe, an EU rearmament scheme, after discussions stalled last year over the cost of entry for the UK. France has insisted the high cost of the UK's proposed membership of the scheme was not due to French pressure, but a result of European Commission calculations, in which France played no part."

"Starmer is also examining the case for a European Defence Mechanism, which would be an intergovernmental instrument open to all European democracies, whether inside or outside the EU. Members of the proposed institution would finance joint procurement and joint assets across Europe. The idea has been promoted by the Bruegel institute and more recently by the former UK foreign secretary David Miliband."

Keir Starmer urged closer UK defence integration with European partners on procurement and manufacturing to place the UK at the centre of a stronger European defence. He highlighted the long-term threat from Russia and called for Europe to take greater responsibility for its own defence. The UK and France want to reopen talks about UK membership of Security Action for Europe after cost-of-entry disputes stalled progress. France says the high projected cost resulted from European Commission calculations. Starmer is examining a European Defence Mechanism to finance joint procurement and shared assets open to all European democracies.

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