The Ministry of Defence has outlined its plans for future UK-EU foreign and security policy dialogues.
Answering a written parliamentary question from Ben Obese-Jecty MP, Defence Minister Al Carns said the government “pledged in its manifesto to pursue a new relationship with the EU to strengthen European security, support growth and reinforce NATO.”
He added that the recently released Strategic Defence Review “further reiterates this commitment and recognises that international partnerships are crucial for the UK’s security and prosperity.”
Carns confirmed that implementation of the UK-EU Security and Defence Partnership, agreed at the May 2025 summit, is progressing jointly with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office. “Since May, my Rt Hon Friend, Defence Secretary John Healey has held discussions with the European Commissioner for Defence and Space, Andrius Kubilius,” he said, adding that these talks explored “the potential for enhanced UK-EU cooperation under SAFE.”
He also confirmed that “the Foreign Secretary and the Defence Secretary will both meet with the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, for the first UK/EU foreign and security policy dialogue under the SDP.”
In a separate written question on strengthening Europe’s collective industrial base, Defence Minister Luke Pollard said the new Defence Industrial Strategy “reaffirms our belief that close cooperation with our European allies is essential.”
He cited ongoing work to “strengthen our shared defence industrial base to ensure Europe is able to secure the critical capabilities needed at the necessary speed, scale and value for money.” Pollard also pointed to bilateral initiatives such as “Lancaster House 2.0 with France,” the “Trinity House agreement with Germany,” and the “UK-Norway defence partnership, including the Type 26 procurement, which will sustain 4,000 jobs in the UK.”
This should provide ample meetings for quite some time
I love meetings,
It’s great to talk,
It’s so much fun to arrange get togethers to discuss fun stuff
From every meeting, many others will come and so much pottential to exchange lots of words and see what other meetings can be arranged in the future.
We really should have more meetings.
“ “further reiterates this commitment and recognises that international partnerships are crucial for the UK’s security and prosperity.””
Bernard would be so proud of such a meaningless sentence.
Defence
Investment
Plan
I think team UKDJ need to be looking at alternatives for the acronym….