To safeguard its security and sovereignty, the United Kingdom should avoid entanglement in the emerging EU military and defence industrial architecture.
Leading without Entanglement
04 Jun 2025
Britain must not join the European Union’s proposed defence union. Not only does such a project duplicate existing NATO structures, but the protectionist defence-trade agreements it includes also threaten British sovereignty, security interests, and competitiveness.
Consequently, the Government’s conclusion of an UK-EU Security and Defence Partnership, signed on 19th May 2025, is a strategic miscalculation. It offers concessions by locking Britain into EU defence structures but includes nothing of substantial value in return.
Instead, Britain should maintain its independence and safeguard its links to traditional security partners. It should adopt a posture of assertive leadership by adhering to a set of guiding principles that make the most of its defence and intelligence capabilities. This would enhance collective security on the continent while avoiding EU-led alternatives. But doing so will require Britain to take a firmer stance with European allies in pursuing its interests.