There’s no UK security without European security.” Starmer signals a decisive pivot toward Europe as transatlantic tensions simmer.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will declare that Britain’s “Brexit years” are over as he urges deeper security cooperation with Europe and calls for reduced reliance on the United States.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference, Starmer is expected to argue that Europe must assume greater responsibility for its own defense amid rising geopolitical uncertainty. His remarks come against a backdrop of strained transatlantic ties under Donald Trump, whose repeated comments about Greenland and criticism of NATO allies have unsettled European leaders.
Starmer will describe Europe as a “sleeping giant,” highlighting that its combined economic output far exceeds Russia’s and that it possesses substantial military capabilities. However, he is also expected to acknowledge fragmentation and duplication in Europe’s defense infrastructure, calling for closer cooperation between the United Kingdom and the European Union to strengthen industrial capacity and defense production.
“There’s no UK security without European security. There’s no European security without UK security,” Starmer said during trilateral talks in Munich with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and French President Emmanuel Macron.
While advocating greater European autonomy, Starmer will emphasize that this does not signal a break with Washington, describing the United States as a key ally. Instead, he will frame his vision as one of burden-sharing rather than separation.
His speech follows renewed debate over Britain’s role in European defense initiatives, including earlier talks on joining the EU’s €150 billion Security Action for Europe rearmament fund.
Starmer is also expected to criticize domestic political opponents, arguing that isolationism or softness toward Russia would weaken Europe at a time of mounting threats.
The address signals a strategic recalibration in London’s foreign policy — one that seeks to anchor Britain firmly within Europe’s security framework while maintaining, but not depending entirely on, the transatlantic alliance.
