UK wants closer EU defence ties with potential bid to join EU Fund

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said his government will consider applying to join a second possible multi-billion-euro European Union fund for defence projects as his ministers prepare for talks with EU counterparts this week.



The European Commission is considering launching a second edition of its SAFE loans scheme as Europe seeks to bolster its defences due to growing fears of Russia and doubts about U.S. security commitments ⁠to Europe under President Donald Trump.



A British plan to join the original $177 billion SAFE fund broke down in November After Starmer's government refused to pay a financial contribution to join, representing a setback for a post-Brexit reset of relations.



Asked if Britain would seek to join a new version of ⁠SAFE, Starmer said Europe needed to do more to rearm.



Starmer 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."



European Union Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic and other EU officials are due in London for talks this week.



Starmer has tried to work more closely ⁠with the EU and remove some post-Brexit trade barriers in contrast to the rancorous relations between previous Conservative governments and the EU as they negotiated Britain's departure from the bloc, which was completed in 2020.