Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said the UK should consider re-entering talks for a defence pact with the European Union, arguing that Europe needs to 'step up and do more' to defend itself in uncertain times. Speaking during a trip to China, Starmer signalled a desire to work more collaboratively with other European countries to increase defence spending and build military capability, with the EU's Security Action for Europe (Safe) defence fund being one option.
Talks for the UK to join the €150bn (£130bn) Safe fund collapsed in November 2025 amid claims the bloc had set too high a price on entry, with France blamed for the breakdown. However, there is understood to be greater appetite on all sides for a deal on the UK to join a future round of Safe, especially since US President Donald Trump's threats to take over Greenland and criticism of NATO.
Starmer said: 'Europe, including the UK, needs to do more on security and defence … that’s an argument I’ve been making for many months now. We’ve got to step up and do more. It’s not only President Trump who thinks Europe needs to do more but other presidents as well. I think the same. That’s why we’ve made commitments to greater spending. I think we need to go beyond that.'
The Guardian revealed on Friday that the UK and EU were exploring the prospect of new talks on closer defence cooperation. Maroš Šefčovič, the EU’s trade commissioner, is due in London for talks on Monday, though defence is not currently on the agenda. Further opportunities for discussion may arise at a political summit convened by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Washington on Wednesday.
Starmer wants to build on defence deals struck with European allies in recent months, including a £10bn deal with Norway for anti-submarine warships built in the UK and an £8bn sale of 20 Typhoon fighter jets to Turkey. 'I do think on spend, capability and cooperation we need to do more together,' he said. 'Whether it’s Safe or other initiatives, it makes good sense for Europe in the widest sense of the word – which is the EU plus other European countries – to work more closely together.'
It is understood that the EU had demanded the UK contribute about €2bn to the Safe fund, while the British felt a contribution in the hundreds of millions was more appropriate. The UK is not eligible to apply for a Safe loan, but if it joined under third-country rules, UK companies could tender for more procurement contracts to supply arms to the EU, boosting the British defence industry.
