At the Munich Security Conference, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called for deeper defence cooperation between Britain and Europe to reduce NATO's dependence on the United States. He praised the U.S. as an indispensable ally while urging greater European burden‑sharing and a more integrated defence procurement approach. Starmer said Britain is open to joining a redesigned EU SAFE fund after previous talks collapsed, and warned that turning inward would jeopardise national and continental security.
Starmer Calls For Stronger UK–Europe Defence Ties To Wean NATO Off US Dependence
British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer speaks with President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, as he attends a bilateral meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy (not pictured) at the Munich Security Conference, in Munich, Germany, February 13, 2026. Stefan Rousseau/Pool via REUTERS
LONDON, Feb 13 (Reuters) - Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged deeper defence cooperation between Britain and European partners at the Munich Security Conference, saying the move would help reduce NATO's heavy reliance on the United States and strengthen Europe's strategic autonomy.
Starmer praised the United States as an indispensable ally that has made an unparalleled contribution to European security, but argued that Europe should take on greater responsibility within NATO rather than depend predominantly on Washington.
Pointing to episodes such as former U.S. President Donald Trump's controversial attempt to acquire Greenland and his repeated calls for higher European defence spending, Starmer said such moments had exposed strains in alliance cohesion.
Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer arrives for the Munich Security Conference, in Munich, Germany February 13, 2026 Alex Brandon/Pool via REUTERS
"I'm talking about a vision of European security and greater European autonomy, that does not herald U.S. withdrawal but answers the call for more burden-sharing in full, and remakes the ties that have served us so well," Starmer said, according to extracts released by his office.
He urged a fresh approach to defence procurement to avoid unnecessary duplication across Europe's defence industrial base, warning that current fragmentation left Europe like a "sleeping giant" that needed to be woken.
Cooperation With Europe And The SAFE Fund
Since taking office in 2024, Starmer has sought to reset relations with the European Union and has played a leading role in coordinating European support for Ukraine following Russia's invasion. Talks last year over Britain joining the EU's SAFE defence fund broke down, but Starmer said he would consider joining a redesigned SAFE and is exploring other avenues for closer defence collaboration with European partners.
Starmer also contrasted his approach with that of recent Conservative governments, saying the UK had moved beyond the confrontational Brexit-era stance. "We are not the Britain of the Brexit years anymore," he said, adding: "There is no British security without Europe, and no European security without Britain."
(Reporting by Alistair Smout; editing by Mark Heinrich)
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