Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called for greater collaboration between the United Kingdom and the European Union on defense, advocating for a comprehensive initiative to enhance arms stockpiles. This appeal comes in light of a previous unsuccessful attempt for London to access the EU’s €150 billion ($174 billion) rearmament loan scheme, which faltered due to disagreements over the entrance fee.
While visiting China, Starmer expressed his willingness to explore opportunities for closer cooperation, particularly emphasizing the need for increased investment in military capabilities and collaborations. “I do think that both on spending, on capability and cooperation… we need to do more together,” he stated to reporters. He highlighted the importance of examining existing initiatives like the SAFE (Security Action for Europe) to determine potential avenues for collaboration.
Since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, European nations have been striving to strengthen their military capabilities. In response, Brussels instituted the SAFE initiative, aimed at providing EU countries with low-interest loans to assist in their rearmament efforts. The prolonged discussions between London and Brussels regarding Britain’s level of contribution to this initiative ended without a resolution.
This outcome represents a slight obstacle for Starmer, who is seeking to repair the UK’s post-Brexit relationship with the EU after taking office in July 2024. He aims to stimulate Britain’s sluggish economy through improved ties. The UK and the EU formalized a strategic partnership agreement last May, which included commitments to deepen defense cooperation and boost trade relations.
In anticipation of increased cooperation, EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic is scheduled to visit London on Monday to engage with several UK ministers. This meeting precedes an upcoming bilateral summit that is set for later this year.
Starmer has made it clear that he does not intend to rejoin the EU’s customs union, instead expressing a preference for nurturing closer connections with its single market. “I think there are other areas in the single market where we should look to see whether we can’t make more progress,” he noted during his recent trip. He underlined that any future agreements hinge on national interest discussions.
Additionally, the Labour leader mentioned that negotiations are ongoing regarding a youth mobility program that would include limitations on visa issuance and the duration of authorized stays. There is also an agreement for the UK to rejoin the Erasmus student exchange program, set to begin in 2027, further demonstrating Starmer’s commitment to fostering educational exchanges and relationships with the EU.
