London and Brussels Will Sign a Defense and Security Agreement

London and Brussels intend to sign a defense and security agreement. The event will take place during the EU-UK summit, which aims to ease trade barriers between the parties.

The British side is lobbying to join the new EUR 150 billion EU Defense Fund – the SAFE (Security Action for Europe) program, which provides for funding joint procurement of weapons and military equipment.

If an agreement is achieved, British arms companies will be able to participate in projects related to the SAFE program, while EU countries will be able to purchase British military equipment with money from the Fund.

Progress in achieving an agreement will depend on the United Kingdom’s guarantees of continued access to its waters for EU fishing vessels and the agreement on fishing quotas with EU countries. In terms of fishing activities, France, Denmark, and some EU coastal countries are seeking to maintain their access to Great Britain’s waters after the current agreement expires in 2026.

Besides, London and Brussels are preparing a separate joint declaration on “global issues,” which could set out common positions on the russian-Ukrainian war and the global trading system.

The new security agreement is an element of UK Prime Minister Cameron’s foreign policy strategy against the background of a change in the USA’s approach to European security. London’s intention to join the SAFE defense initiative demonstrates its desire to strengthen its role in shaping European security policy. At the same time, Brussels’ cooperation with the British defense industry will strengthen the EU’s defense capabilities and reduce its dependence on external suppliers, particularly the United States.