The Ministry of Defence has confirmed that implementation is underway on the UK’s new Security and Defence Partnership with the European Union, agreed on 19 May 2025.
Responding to a written question from James Cartlidge MP, Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard said the partnership was an example of the government “delivering on our manifesto commitments to strengthen European security, support growth and reinforce NATO.”
Pollard stated that since May, the Defence Secretary has held discussions with the European Commissioner for Defence and Space, Andrius Kubilius, and the Foreign Secretary has met with the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas. These discussions have covered the UK’s ambition to explore closer cooperation under the EU’s SAFE programme and wider regional security challenges.
“We look forward to the foreign and security policy dialogue between the High Representative, the Foreign Secretary and the Defence Secretary this autumn,” Pollard said.
He confirmed that UK officials are holding consultations with EU counterparts on a range of shared priorities, including Iran, Russia’s war in Ukraine, and irregular migration. Pollard added that any UK involvement under the new framework would be measured against national interests.
“The Defence Secretary has previously said to this House he will ensure that any UK commitment, whether financial or non-financial, provides value for the UK taxpayer and supports our defence goals,” he said.
“We will continue to prioritise engagement and cooperation on the issues that are most important in helping to safeguard European security and prosperity, all in support of this government’s NATO First defence policy.”
Pollard concluded by offering further engagement with Cartlidge, saying the Defence Secretary “is happy to arrange a discussion with the Member of Parliament for South Suffolk who has shown such interest in these topics.”
The Security and Defence Partnership was described at the time of its signing as a major reengagement between London and Brussels on defence policy. Ministers have been careful, however, to stress that cooperation with the EU will remain complementary to NATO’s core role in European defence.
We just want our jet back!
#Day34
I thought you were earning 250 £’s per day to raise money to get it back ?
“The all seing eye” !
# Deliveroo.
Yeah… that didn’t go too well — I’m currently down $1,300. But I’ll keep at it👍
After all:
“no risk, no reward”
Discussion and consultations.
No actions as those cost money.
UK used to be Europe’s defence power…..now we just can’t be bothered to take it seriously.
Indeed.
Very much so.
It’s not even a H.M.G. priority to protect our gas supplies from the Gulf any more!
H.M.G. could procure some under-used LCS Freedom Class from Uncle Sam, to do that job!
Why in gods name would the RN even look at those money sinks?
Maybe better than No RN presence in the Gulf at all?
And rather have LCS than others rust buckets!
Even more Words and less action (or no action at all).
Even one firm order would be a start.
If a war could be won by words the U.K. would be a superpower. The so called Euro agreement is just the latest excuse for us to do as little as possible, hiding our lack of serious intent inside consultations and negotiations.
This years defence budget has mostly been blown on Venue hire, Tea and Buscuits. Maybe a few goody bags for the grandkids.
“you don’t stop talking, why don’t you give it a rest. You got more Rabbit than Sainsburys”
“Rabbit rabbit rabbit, so on and so forth.
(Chas and Dave for the yoof, dudes and bro’s amongst us).
The increase in the defence budget is pretty modest, an extra £5bn/8% a year for the next 3 years.
It has already been allocated and largely spent. 4.5% pay rise for the forces. A good slice invested in repair/refurb of service housing. A lot going on increasing the weapons stockpile.
Then a whole raft of new things for the RN, as always. Big refurb of Portsmouth, Plymouth and Faslane bases. Laser weapons for some escorts, Malloy UAVs to carry limited stors and mail for the CSG, Project Bastion, with its proposed new sloops and UUVs, MCMV UuVs for the Stirling Castle class, possible/probable UAV launch system for the carriers, etc, etc.
The army is just getting a new backpack drone and a hand-launched fire support one, I think that’s all that’s new. Don’t think the RAF is getting anything, unless HMG goes ahead and orders two extra Wedgetails.
So basically, there’s not much money left to go buying more frigates or Typhoons or armoured vehicles. Any such increases will have to wait until such time as the defence budget increases from 2.5% * to 3% of GDP, some time from 2028 onwards.
* The defence spend is currently 2.34%, but apparently it is accepted that 0.2% of that is not core defence (big surprise!). So we are really doing a standing start from 2.14% which gives us a mountain to climb to reach 5%. Nobody spending as little as 2.14% amd paying for a hugely expensive nuclear programme plus coatly aircraft carriers could really not expect to be fielding adequate, properly-equipped armed forces.