UK should consider resuming talks on EU defence pact, Starmer says | Defence policy

Britain should consider re-entering negotiations for a defense deal with the EU, Keir Starmer has said, arguing that Europe must “step up and do more” to defend itself in uncertain times.

The Prime Minister has signaled that he wants to work more collaboratively with other European countries to increase defense spending and improve military capacity, and that doing so through the EU plan is one of the available options.

Talks for the UK to join the €150bn (£130bn) security action for the EU’s European (Secure) defense fund collapsed in November 2025 amid allegations the bloc set too high a price for entry, with France blamed for the collapse.

However, there appears to be a greater appetite on all sides to reach an agreement for the UK to participate in a future Safe tour, especially after Donald Trump’s threats to seize Greenland and criticism of NATO.

Asked on a trip to China whether it was possible for the UK to return to a second round of Secure defense deals if the price was right, Starmer said: “Europe, including the UK, needs to do more on security and defence… This is an argument I have been making for months.

“We have to step up and do more. It’s not just President Trump who thinks Europe needs to do more, other presidents too. I think the same. That’s why we promised to spend more. I think we need to go beyond that.”

Britain and the EU are exploring the possibility of new talks on closer defense cooperation, the Guardian said on Friday. EU trade commissioner Maroš Šefčovič will hold talks in London next week, where trade, energy and fisheries will be on the agenda.

While defense is not currently on the agenda for this meeting, other opportunities to discuss defense could arise for the EU and the UK at a political summit organized by US secretary of state Marco Rubio to discuss critical minerals in Washington on Wednesday, when the State Department sent a minister.

Starmer wants to build on defense deals struck with European allies in recent months, and more bilateral deals are another option on the table. While Norway made a 10 billion pound deal for anti-submarine warships to be built in England, England agreed to sell 20 Typhoon warplanes to Türkiye for 8 billion pounds.

“I think we need to do more together on spending, talent and collaboration. I made the argument and that should require us to look at schemes like Safe and others to see if there’s a way in which we can work more closely together,” Starmer told reporters.

“Whether it’s security or other initiatives, it makes sense for Europe in the broadest sense of the word (meaning the EU and other European countries) to work more closely together. That’s what I advocate, too, and I hope to make some progress on that.”

The safe fund consists of money that the European Commission collects from credit markets and is then lent to member states for 45 years. They can buy everything from ammunition to drones and missiles.

The aim of the fund is to enable the EU to rapidly build defense capacity; This takes on extra urgency due to Trump’s lack of support and regular threats against NATO.

The UK is not eligible to apply for the Secured loan, but if it joins the scheme under third country rules, UK companies could tender for more purchase contracts to supply arms to the EU, strengthening the British defense industry.

It is understood that the EU requested the UK to contribute approximately 2 billion euros to the fund, while the British thought a contribution of hundreds of millions of dollars was more appropriate.

Starmer faces pressure from his own party to establish closer ties with the EU. He has rejected the idea of ​​rejoining the customs union because the UK would have to scrap trade deals with other countries, but the prime minister is known to be keen on greater alignment with the single market.

EU relations are increasingly becoming a dividing line between Labor and Nigel Farage’s UK Reform; but the government rules out the UK returning to the single market or customs union or restoring free movement.

In China, Starmer criticized the Reform leader’s promises on Brexit. “I wouldn’t pay too much attention to what Nigel Farage has to say about this. It’s absolutely clear that the failed deal we got from the last government has damaged our economy,” he said.

“That’s why we have to reset this relationship and want to get even closer on defense and security, energy, emissions and trade… When we reach the summit this year, we will not only follow the 10 steps we identified at last year’s summit, but we will also want to get closer through an iterative process.”