Former UK prime minister Keir Starmer urged Europe to build a common security framework with Britain at its centre. Speaking in Dublin, he argued that changes in the US defence relationship were permanent and required more than higher spending. He also described Britain’s military and intelligence alliance with Washington as strong, while seeking greater European responsibility.
Former UK prime minister Keir Starmer called for a common European security framework with Britain at its centre. Speaking at a British Irish Chamber of Commerce dinner in Dublin City Hall on October 30, he said Europe needed greater cooperation and coordination in defence. His intervention came after leaving office during the summer, and expressed a former head of government’s position.[1], [2]
Starmer argued that Russia’s attack on Ukraine had exposed longstanding European weaknesses. Trump’s insistence on greater European responsibility, he said, should be understood as a permanent change rather than a temporary feature of one presidency. Increased defence expenditure was only part of his proposed response. He wanted stronger continent-wide arrangements and said European security could not be organised by the European Union alone.[1]
He continued to describe Britain’s military, security and intelligence alliance with the United States as strong. Greater European responsibility therefore sat alongside continued cooperation with Washington in his argument. Starmer received honorary life membership at the dinner for his contribution to UK-Irish relations during his premiership. The speech set out no new interstate treaty, joint command decision or budget commitment by Britain’s current government.[1]
