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Starmer calls for deeper defence co-operation with European Union

04 Feb 2025 2 minute read
Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump confer. Picture by the Kremlin (CC BY 4.0).

Sir Keir Starmer urged Europe’s leaders to do more to counter Vladimir Putin’s attempts to sabotage vital undersea cables.

The Prime Minister told European Union counterparts there should be increased military co-operation and greater industrial collaboration to strengthen defence on the continent.

His comments came as Europe scrambled to consider how to respond to Donald Trump’s return to the White House.

The US president has threatened to take over Greenland, a territory which is part of the Kingdom of Denmark, warned of the possibility of slapping tariffs on European Union goods and demanded increased defence spending from the continent’s Nato members.

Sir Keir addressed EU leaders over dinner in Brussels, where he became the first UK prime minister to attend a European Council meeting since Brexit.

Co-operation

He said: “We need to deepen co-operation to protect ourselves from state threats and sabotage, including on sub-sea infrastructure.”In January, the Government revealed a nuclear-powered Royal Navy attack submarine was used to warn off the Russian spy vessel Yantar which was caught loitering over “UK critical undersea infrastructure”.

Sir Keir told the leaders in Brussels they should also “explore greater co-operation on missions and operations, like we’re already doing with our operations in the Red Sea and our work to train Ukrainian troops”.

Ties

The Prime Minister, who is pushing for closer defence and security ties as part of his “reset” in relations with the EU, also called for more work on military research and development, where the UK has “unique skills”.He also suggested measures to improve military mobility and logistics, and suggested the EU and UK should “deepen our industrial collaboration” – warning against “fragmentation” across the bloc.

“We will be more successful in building the European defence sector and contributing more to our own defence if we work together,” he said.


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Jeff
Jeff
14 days ago

UK needs to stand with the EU and warn trump off Greenland and Panama. Trump is untrustworthy, filled his cabinet with people that would struggle to get security clearance in a decent democracy , he lies his way through life, don’t be one of his victims. And don’t share any intel, it will be in putins in tray the next hour.

Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
14 days ago

First of all whose side is Europe on, or will it be on in a few years…

Lesson number one; alliances can change overnight…

I get the feeling Clark and Trwmp have too much common ground for comfort…

Ernie The Smallholder
Ernie The Smallholder
14 days ago

It must be evident by now that Putin and Trump are equally a threat to the rest of the world. They both run regimes that are very centralised culturally, economically, imperialistic politically. They are alien to the democracy we inspire to be in Europe. It has become evident that Russia and USA are moving in the wrong direction towards authoritarianism and imperialistic. They are values not compatible with the original values of when NATO was set up. It may be time that the USA should be treated as an imperialist threat as Russia. It is time for Europe to unite… Read more »

Last edited 14 days ago by Ernie The Smallholder
Mab Meirion
Mab Meirion
14 days ago

Its other name around the World was the ‘Great Satan’ after ‘Great Britain’ showed how to ‘make friends’ and influence people while brokering whatever they have of value, be it Animal, Vegetable or Mineral…

Best to keep in mind Clark is the King’s First Minister while Trwmp believes himself to be Lord and Master of all he sees…

Last edited 14 days ago by Mab Meirion
A.Redman
A.Redman
13 days ago

You seem to forget that originally it was for a Common Trading Market that the UK joined the EU,NOT what it was allowed to morph into! Saying that the UK was part of any decision making would be right if their ideas were not vetoed at every opportunity.
In France if the farmers didn’t agree with a particular edict from Brussels, it wouldn’t happen.The same with their Fishermen. Animal welfare standards are lower in some of EU member states than the UK. Don’t let facts get in the way of all the “remainers” wanting to rejoin.

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