During a parliamentary session and in response to written questions, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) highlighted its ongoing efforts to deepen defence relationships with European allies through new and revitalised agreements.
Alex Barros-Curtis, Labour MP for Cardiff West, asked about steps being taken to strengthen collaboration with European allies. “I was encouraged by what the Secretary of State said about strengthening ties with allies. Can the Minister elaborate on the steps that he and the Department are taking to further strengthen collaboration with our European allies during 2025?”
Responding, Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard emphasised the government’s commitment to international partnerships. “As the Prime Minister has made clear, Britain is back on the world stage, and we are deepening our defence relationships with our European allies,” Pollard said.
He highlighted several initiatives, including “continuing to implement the Trinity House agreement between the UK and Germany” and the “new UK-Estonia road map.” He also announced plans to “refresh the Lancaster House agreement with our friends in France.”
Andrew Lewin, Labour MP for Welwyn Hatfield, sought further details on steps to improve defence ties with Europe through a written question. Pollard reiterated the MOD’s focus on strengthening relationships, stating, “Deepening our defence relationships with European allies continues to be a priority.”
Pollard pointed to key agreements already in place, such as the UK-Germany Trinity House Agreement and the UK-Estonia road map, both signed since July 2024. He confirmed that “during 2025 we will also reinvigorate the UK-France Lancaster House Agreement.”
Pollard noted that these initiatives complement the UK’s “NATO first approach,” underlining the importance of collective defence efforts to improve security cooperation across Europe.
The oral and written responses reflect a broader strategy to rebuild and strengthen European defence partnerships post-Brexit. The renewed focus on agreements with Germany, Estonia, and France highlights the UK’s intent to play a leading role in European security while maintaining its commitment to NATO as the cornerstone of its defence policy.
“Back on the World stage”
Ah, so AUKUS, GCAP and several collaborations with Germany and France before Labour came to power don’t exist then?
Neither does 5 Eyes UKUSA, the deepest intelligence alliance between the 5 Anglosphere nations ever seen.
What tosh these politicians speak.
On these defence initiatives, all good, as long as we actually BUY something at the end of them.
As my friend ABC mentioned here recently, what have we bought this decade? Very little.
Yes lots of talk, some purchases are needed. Not everything needs to wait for the defence review..the medium lift rotor is a prime example. Waiting until the end of 2025 to finalise the order is simply nothing more than an in year saving delay.
I was optimistic that both parties had crossed the Rubicon in regards to having to prepare for a major peer war, but it seems the new lot are the same as the old lot…
Sadly, yes.
Labour congratulating Labour by invitation Daniele, thta’s all it ease. As we know well Labour ministers don’t tell lies !!
ease is “is”. It’s late for my cocoa and bedtime…
I wonder what capacity we have to thwart a US invasion force if Musk gets his Bay of Pigs moment. At least we would see if our nuclear deterrent truly is independent, if not I guess we will just have to sit back and see which of Musk’s children are made Governor.
Hehe
HM Treasury are lending the Americans some efficiency experts. I’m confident they have all the experience needed.
That assumes that Elon Musk sees anything in the UK that’s worth an invasion.
I’m sure he does. That’s probably why he and Trump are trying so hard to destabilise the current government 🙂
Trump is not doing anything to destabilize the British Government. He has kept completely silent on the grooming issue. But if you didn’t get all of your news from the corrupt British media you would know that Musk speaks for the vast majority of the MAGA movement on the grooming issue.
California with a population of 40 million has a GDP of $4.08 trillion. The UK with a population of 70 million has a GDP of $3.6 trillion. Musk realizes that there’s nothing there to want.
weirdly he doesn’t speak on the 40+ indictements against Trump
“Musk speaks for the vast majority of the MAGA movement….”
The MAGA movement are deranged and delusional who seem to get most of their news and disinformation from Russian troll farms..
It’s your choice to be dominated by a narcissistic fascist, with Trump as his deputy, we’ll sit back and watch the unfolding car crash as the convicted fraudster, felon and sex attacker carries out Putins agenda.
You are beyond clueless and a shining example for how corrupt your media and politics are.
It’s alright I think we are well down the list
1) Canada
2) Panama
3) Greenland
4) Mexico
The scary truth is I think that if he thought he could actually get away with it domestically Trump would actually start taking over random north and Central American states.
European partnerships? The $64,000 question is how
, following a ceasefire, do European forces alone guarantee the security of a new Ukraine which is not a member lf NATO?
California is blessed with a Mediterranean climate and a Franciscan formation. Trump knows the UK Labour govt will not dance to his tune. The US needs reluable military and political allies like the UK whose govt is the most stable in Europe. It is reengineeriing the UK economy along the resilient principles advocated by the likes of Paul Collier and Mariana Mazzucato . The UK is the worlds 7th largest exporter of defence equipment. We are well on the way to constructing a very capable global navy. We are realigning with Europe as a peer, not a vassal state of the EU. Neither do we have any interest in becoming tbe 51st state of the US. In any upcoming trade talks we will do what is in our own interests. Trump already has his victim in Canada and Trudeau. Who is next…little old Denmark?
The F35 depending on model has 10-15% British content depending on model, so a fallout with us large enough for either side to declare an arms embargo would cripple production for years till they could get replacement production up and running. I’m sure someone in the US government would know this. It would be a stalemate we need them for F35’s but they need us. Only Russia and China would benefit from this.