Talks for UK to join EU defence fund collapse in blow to Starmer’s bid to reset relations

The GuardianFriday, November 28, 2025 at 3:42:37 PM
Talks for UK to join EU defence fund collapse in blow to Starmer’s bid to reset relations
  • Negotiations for the UK to join the EU's €150bn defence fund have collapsed, marking a significant setback for Keir Starmer's efforts to improve relations with the EU. The UK was seeking to participate in the Safe fund, a low-interest loan scheme aimed at bolstering European defence amid rising tensions with Russia.
  • This breakdown in talks is particularly detrimental for Starmer, as it undermines his strategy to align the UK more closely with European partners, especially in the context of increasing security threats from Russia and geopolitical shifts involving the US.
  • The failure to secure UK participation in the defence fund reflects broader challenges in EU-UK relations post-Brexit, where issues of cooperation on security and defence remain contentious. Additionally, the EU's ongoing debates over the use of frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine highlight the complexities of international law and the ethical implications of such actions, further complicating the geopolitical landscape.
— via World Pulse Now AI Editorial System

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