"The UK and the EU are exploring the prospect of new talks on closer defence cooperation, as Keir Starmer stressed on Friday that he wanted to go further in the UK's relationship with Brussels. Maros Sefcovic, the EU's trade commissioner, is due in London for talks next week, with trade, energy and fisheries on the agenda. But diplomatic sources said the UK is keen to discuss restarting negotiations on defence as soon as it can."
"Talks for the UK to join the EU's 150bn (130bn) Security Action for Europe (Safe) defence fund collapsed in November 2025 amid claims that the EU had set too high a price on entry to the programme. France has denied it was responsible for the breakdown in talks, but diplomatic sources say tension remains between Paris and other member states, particularly Germany, where sources have said they want the UK to be involved in Safe as soon as possible."
The UK and the EU are exploring renewed talks on closer defence cooperation. Maros Sefcovic will visit London to discuss trade, energy and fisheries. Diplomatic sources say the UK seeks to restart negotiations to join the EU's 150bn Security Action for Europe (Safe) defence fund, after talks collapsed in November 2025 amid claims the EU set too high a price. France denies responsibility, but tensions persist with other member states, notably Germany. One EU proposal linked UK access to Safe with participation in a separate 90bn loan for Ukraine, securitised against Russian frozen assets; Germany opposes preconditions.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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