It will take Churchillian clarity to guarantee Europe's defence
Last week, we marked the anniversary of Victory in Europe Day. Eighty years ago, Britain emerged bloodied but unbowed from six long years of war. My grandfather, Winston Churchill, addressed the nation with gravity and pride, conscious that while peace had been won, the work of rebuilding and securing the future had only just started. He knew, as we must now remember, that peace is never a given; it must be earned, defended and maintained.
Today Europe again finds itself at a moment of great consequence. The war in Ukraine has shattered the illusion that our continent's peace and security are settled. As threats mount at our borders and beyond, we are once again reminded that freedom must be safeguarded through shared effort and collective resolve.
Next week, the UK and EU will meet at a summit that could – if the political will is there – mark the beginning of a new chapter in our strategic relationship. Independence from the European Union need not equate to isolation. Our security is inextricably linked to that of our neighbours, and it is imperative that we stand united in the face of shared threats. We have a duty – indeed, a pressing national interest – to work more closely with our continental partners in the defence of our continent.
Now is the moment for both sides to agree a new Security and Defence Partnership. This was envisioned in the 2019 Political Declaration, signed by a Conservative government, which promised a broad, comprehensive and balanced defence relationship. The Government must deliver on that commitment. Such a framework would establish regular consultation and cooperation across the full spectrum of security and defence issues, anchored by an annual high-level UK-EU Security and Defence Dialogue.
This is not a theoretical exercise. A structured partnership would allow Britain to engage meaningfully in areas where we have both capacity and interest. It would ensure that we have a seat at the table when EU Council-level discussions take place on issues that affect us – or where our voice could help shape Europe's collective response.
Britain once played a leading role in European defence missions across the globe. The UK hosted the operational headquarters for Operation ATALANTA, which tackled piracy off the coast of Somalia. We were a major contributor to Operation ALTHEA in Bosnia and Herzegovina, which continues to underpin stability in the Western Balkans. In today's geopolitical climate, a renewed British role in such missions would serve both our strategic interests and the broader cause of European security.
A new partnership must also enable the UK to participate in major European initiatives that are rapidly reshaping the continent's defence architecture. Earlier this year, the EU launched a €150 billion Security Action for Europe (SAFE) fund. The aim is clear: to strengthen European defence capabilities through coordinated investment and common procurement.
Participation would deliver strategic and economic benefits to both the UK and the EU. It would enhance interoperability between our armed forces, reduce duplication, and provide long-term certainty for defence manufacturers on both sides of the Channel. As Europe seeks to build scale and resilience in its defence industrial base, it would be short-sighted and counterproductive for the EU to exclude one of the continent's most capable military powers.
This is not about rejoining the European Union. It is about doing what is right for Britain and what is necessary for Europe. We are living through a moment of extraordinary global uncertainty. Our adversaries do not distinguish between EU and non-EU countries. They target our values, our institutions, our infrastructure. To stand apart risks division and decline; to stand together is to lead with strength and purpose.
In Churchill's time, Britain helped liberate Europe through courage, sacrifice and leadership. Today, we must help defend it with the same clarity of purpose. A new Security and Defence Partnership with the EU is not a retreat from sovereignty – it is the strategic exercise of it. It is a bold and necessary step to ensure that Britain remains a central pillar in the defence of the democratic world.
If VE Day taught us anything, it is that peace can never be taken for granted. Alliances, when forged with mutual respect and shared purpose, amplify our strength rather than diminish it. That principle shaped the post-war order – and it must guide us now.
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