Sir Keir Starmer is expected to say “we are not the Britain of the Brexit years anymore” when he addresses world leaders at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday (February 14).
Starmer is rubbing shoulders with around 50 world leaders at the Munich Security Conference, where he has already met with Germany’s Friedrich Merz and France’s Emmanuel Macron.
The leaders have also met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss efforts to end the conflict between Ukraine and Russia as the four-year anniversary of Vladimir Putin’s full-scale invasion nears.
European defence and the future of the transatlantic relationship are on the agenda at the conference, at a time when America’s commitment to Nato has been called into question.
Tensions flared over Mr Trump’s recent threat to take over Greenland from Nato partner Denmark, and insults directed at various leaders.
(Image: PA Wire)
In his speech to the summit on Saturday, the Prime Minister will call for a more European defence alliance and greater autonomy for the continent.
Starmer will say that this should be underpinned by stronger ties between Britain and the EU.
He is expected to say: “We are not the Britain of the Brexit years anymore.
“Because we know that, in dangerous times, we would not take control by turning inward – we would surrender it. And I won’t let that happen.
“There is no British security without Europe, and no European security without Britain. That is the lesson of history – and it is today’s reality too.”
The Prime Minister will praise the US’s contribution to European security and say it remains a key ally.
(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
But as Trump’s administration has upended the international order and denigrated traditional allies in Europe, the bloc must reduce its dependence on the US and take more responsibility for its own defence, Sir Keir will suggest.
All eyes will be on whether US secretary of state Marco Rubio will take a similar approach to vice president JD Vance, who at last year’s gathering made waves by criticising European countries, including the UK, over free speech and immigration.
Rubio pointed to a “new era in geopolitics” before his arrival.
The Prime Minister was allocated a seat next to the US secretary of state at the Ukraine meeting, although Mr Rubio had not arrived by the time the press left the room for the private talks to commence.
In his speech, Starmer will say: “I’m talking about a vision of European security and greater European autonomy, that does not herald US withdrawal but answers the call for more burden sharing in full, and remakes the ties that have served us so well.”
He will highlight Europe’s failure to make the most of its defence capabilities and call for closer UK-EU defence co-operation “to multiply our strengths and build a shared industrial base across Europe which can turbocharge our defence production”.
“Europe is a sleeping giant. Our economies dwarf Russia’s, 10 times over,” Starmer will say.
“We have huge defence capabilities. Yet, too often, all of this has added up to less than the sum of its parts.
“Across Europe, fragmented industrial planning and long, drawn out procurement mechanisms have led to gaps in some areas – and massive duplication in others.”
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