High Representative Kaja Kallas will travel to London this week for talks with defense officials as the European Union (EU) prepares for significant discussions on the state of security collaboration with the United Kingdom. This meeting occurs just months before the scheduled EU-UK summit, set for mid-May 2025. The European Commission is working tirelessly to secure approval from all 27 member states for negotiations on establishing a comprehensive security and defense partnership with the UK, highlighting the urgent need for heightened cooperation.
According to Matti Maasikas, Managing Director for Europe at the European External Action Service (EEAS), the geopolitical climate has changed dramatically since the Trade and Cooperation Agreement was signed, necessitating this move to build stronger ties with the UK. "What could we do more? This being the EU you need the legal framework, you need legal basis to do things and since the foreign policy declaration was left out of the Trade and Cooperation Agreement, we need to find new ways and a new basis for our cooperation," Maasikas stated during the EU-UK Parliamentary Partnership Assembly. He emphasized, "The Security and defense partnership could be one of those instruments, should be if you ask me, if you ask the High Representative." With unanimous consent required from all EU member states, the discussions for obtaining this mandate are reportedly intensifying.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has been advocating for this security and defense pact since taking office last summer, emphasizing the importance of collaboration on military research and development, enhanced military mobility across Europe, and joint operations. On the same front, UK Minister for EU Relations Nick Thomas-Symonds confirmed on March 17, 2025, during the parliamentary assembly, "The UK is ready to negotiate." Meanwhile, Catriona Mace, the foreign and development policy director at the UK Mission to the EU, stated, "The status quo should not be the extent of our ambition. We must do more together."
Significantly, the atmosphere surrounding UK-EU relationships has shifted following Donald Trump's unexpected decision to initiate discussions with Russia about resolving its conflict with Ukraine. This has fueled interactions among leaders from both the UK and EU member states, with numerous meetings dedicated to discussing defense strategies and security guarantees for Ukraine taking place over the absence of agreement on future military cooperation.
Starmer and French leaders have closely aligned their positions, indicating readiness to send troops to Ukraine as part of prospective peacekeeping efforts contingent on any negotiated ceasefire between Moscow and Kyiv. Kaja Kallas, who is also advancing plans for military assistance totaling up to €40 billion to Ukraine, is expected to meet with Chief of the Defense Staff Tony Radakin on March 19, 2025. Maasikas expresses optimism about these talks, stating, "I have high hopes for very fruitful discussions on all the issues, on the pragmatic cooperation going on, and also on widening the basis for this cooperation."
David Lammy, the UK Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, echoed the call for renewed commitment to European security. He remarked, "The seriousness of the moment demands a new era in U.K.-EU security and defense cooperation." With tensions rising and the reality of the post-Cold War peace dividend fading, leaders from both sides recognize this as a pivotal opportunity to redefine partnerships. The urgency for Europe to take charge of its defense responsibilities is palpable, as officials face the sobering need for strategic cooperation.
Overall, the upcoming discussions between Kallas and UK officials could symbolize the beginning of this new chapter for European security. The emphasis on increased collaboration may not only stabilize current relations but also serve as the foundation for addressing future challenges too. The path toward enhancing security and defense relationships appears complex, yet both sides are poised to discuss the multifaceted aspects of governance, cooperation, and military readiness moving forward.
