Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has called for a “more European NATO,” urging the continent to reduce overreliance on the United States while strengthening defence and security cooperation with the United Kingdom.
Speaking at the Munich Security Conference on Saturday, Starmer stressed that European security and British security are inseparable, warning that the growing threat from Russia demands a new era of shared responsibility and deeper integration.
“There is no British security without Europe, and no European security without Britain. That is the lesson of history – and it is today’s reality too,” he said.
While reaffirming that the United States remains “an indispensable ally” with an “unparalleled contribution to European security,” the Prime Minister argued that Europe must evolve towards greater autonomy. He described the goal as “interdependence” — forging a new path toward sovereign deterrence and strengthened hard power — rather than signalling any American withdrawal.
According to Starmer, Europe must answer longstanding calls for fairer burden-sharing within NATO and modernise the alliances that have preserved stability for decades.
A major obstacle, he noted, is Europe’s fragmented defence industrial base. He warned that disjointed planning and prolonged procurement processes have resulted in critical capability gaps in some areas and unnecessary duplication in others.
“Across Europe, fragmented industrial planning and long, drawn-out procurement mechanisms have led to gaps in some areas – and massive duplication in others,” he said, calling for a collective effort to build a stronger and more integrated defence capability backed by historic spending increases.
Highlighting the UK’s role, Starmer said British firms account for more than a quarter of Europe’s defence industrial base and employ about 239,000 people across the country. He proposed combining Britain’s leadership in defence, technology and artificial intelligence with European partners to build a shared industrial base capable of accelerating production and innovation.
Describing Europe as “a sleeping giant,” Starmer pointed out that the continent’s combined economies are ten times larger than Russia’s, yet its military potential often falls short due to lack of coordination.
To meet emerging threats, he confirmed that the UK defence budget will rise to record levels, delivering what he described as the biggest increase since the Cold War, totalling £270 billion over the course of the current Parliament.
The Prime Minister also highlighted ongoing international defence collaborations, including a £10 billion agreement with Norway to supply naval frigates, an £8 billion Typhoon fighter jet deal with Turkey, and joint work with Germany, Italy and France on next-generation long-range missile systems.
Beyond military strategy, Starmer warned against political extremism, cautioning that both far-left and far-right groups often share scepticism toward NATO and adopt softer stances on Russia.
“If we don’t level with the public and build consent for the decisions we will have to take, the peddlers of easy answers on the extreme left and the extreme right are ready,” he said.
He warned that abandoning long-standing alliances in favour of ideological agendas could lead to division and capitulation, evoking historical echoes of instability across the continent.
Concluding his address, Starmer called for unity and renewed commitment to democratic values, urging European nations to take greater responsibility for their own security.
“In a volatile world, we help our people look forward not with fear, but with determination – and hope,” he said.
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