In a notable pivot at the Munich Security Conference, UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer called on Europe to deepen its interdependence and bolster sovereign deterrence, signaling a reduced reliance on American military support following Donald Trump's return to the White House.
Delivering his remarks on Saturday, Starmer shifted tone after a year of avoiding a clear choice between Washington and Brussels, now edging Britain closer to the European Union and advocating an end to over-reliance on U.S. backing.
British officials described the prime minister's language as marking a sharper and more assertive stance than in previous statements, emphasizing a strategic realignment amid uncertainties from across the Atlantic.
“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,” Starmer said, according to excerpts of his speech provided by his office.
Starmer further underscored the inseparability of British and European security, declaring: “We are not the Britain of the Brexit years any more. 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.”
The speech comes as Starmer has sought to foster good relations with the U.S. president, aiming to avert the most punitive tariffs and encourage continued American support for Ukraine.
