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Europe can't rely on US to 'bankroll' defence, Dublin event told
BBC • • world
Key Points:
- Sir Keir Starmer emphasized at a Dublin event that Europe must develop a common security framework, as the US will no longer "bankroll" European defence, marking a permanent shift rather than a temporary change from the Trump era.
- He highlighted the need for Europe to take greater responsibility for its own defence, pointing to recent failures to anticipate threats like Russia's invasion of Ukraine and the US's reduced commitment to European security.
- Starmer stressed that while the UK-US military and intelligence alliance remains strong, Europe cannot rely solely on the US and must build pan-European cooperation on defence beyond increased spending.
- He called for the UK to be central to this new European security framework, noting that the EU alone cannot address defence challenges, especially given Europe's strategic periphery.
- Starmer also mentioned maintaining contact with former President Trump despite past tensions, reflecting on their initially positive relationship during his premiership.
