EU Urges Closer Defence Ties with the UK Amid Trump-Putin Talks
In light of recent developments surrounding the Ukraine conflict, EU insiders are amplifying their calls for a comprehensive defence agreement with the United Kingdom. This comes following Donald Trump’s contentious proposal for a deal concerning Ukraine, which has left European leaders in a state of urgency to formulate a cohesive response.
On Monday, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer participated in an emergency summit with EU counterparts in Paris, aimed at devising a strategy after Europe found itself excluded from critical discussions between the United States and Russia regarding Ukraine’s future.
According to EU sources, Trump’s negotiations with Vladimir Putin and his broader indications of a potential American withdrawal from European affairs highlight the pressing need for a robust defence collaboration between London and Brussels. This partnership is seen as a vital component of the Prime Minister’s post-Brexit strategic pivot.
One diplomatic source from Brussels remarked to The i Paper, “The escalating pressure on European nations, including the UK, to enhance their defence cooperation has intensified with the recent comments and actions from the US. Therefore, establishing closer collaboration appears to be a logical progression.”
Another insider from Brussels underscored that there is now a “whole new urgency” surrounding the negotiations for a UK-EU defence pact, especially as Trump’s team is set to engage with Putin’s allies for discussions on Ukraine in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.
Renew Europe Advocates for Enhanced Security Framework
As these discussions unfold, the Renew Europe political group within the European Parliament has called for the establishment of a “strong European pillar” within NATO, emphasizing the inclusion of the UK and Norway. They are advocating for the post-Brexit reset to encompass an “ambitious” security and defence agreement. This appeal was made in a formal letter addressed to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Alberto Costa.
While Renew Europe is only the fifth-largest political group in the European Parliament, it wields significant influence, with notable supporters such as French President Emmanuel Macron, EU foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas, and the leaders of Ireland, Estonia, and Slovenia.
Furthermore, the group is pushing for an increase in defence spending, suggesting the use of “creative” financial strategies. This follows Von der Leyen’s recent endorsement of a plan that would allow EU nations to incur debt to bolster their military capabilities.
However, The i Paper has learned that the UK Government is not in favour of a proposal from several EU member states that seeks to involve the UK in a collective defence spending initiative funded by shared debt. Ministers believe that such a plan could expose the UK to European debt liabilities, asserting that the UK’s defence expenditure is more effective than that of the EU, although this option has not been entirely dismissed.
Starmer Engages with European Leaders
As the summit progressed, Starmer was observed engaging in a prolonged handshake with French President Macron upon his arrival for discussions focused on Ukrainian affairs and European defence at the Élysée Palace in Paris. Other notable arrivals included NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.
The prime ministers of Poland, the Netherlands, and Denmark—Donald Tusk, Dick Schoof, and Mette Frederiksen—were also seen arriving for the pivotal meeting.
Ahead of the summit, Von der Leyen cautioned that “Europe’s security is at a turning point,” urging leaders to adopt an “urgency mindset” and to push for a “surge in defence” efforts. This call to action coincided with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio leading a delegation to Saudi Arabia for discussions with Russian officials aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict.
Notably, Ukraine has not been invited to these talks and has made it clear that it would reject any outcomes stemming from the discussions if Kyiv is not involved, as reiterated by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday.
