BREXIT FLIP-FLOP
May plays the defence card to kick-start talks
THERESA May will today offer a ‘deep security partnership’ with the European Union after Brexit in an attempt to kick-start stalled talks.
In a new official ‘ position paper’, ministers will spell out the scale and importance of Britain’s military, defence and security assets and offer to continue close co-operation.
But the document will be seen by Brussels as an attempt to play the security card, with the implied threat that the UK could step back from backing European defence if it does not get a good deal.
It will specifically highlight the ‘global threats’ facing both the EU and Britain – and offer a future security relationship that is closer than with ‘ any other country’.
The European Commission is refusing to discuss trade until British ministers agree to pay an eye-watering ‘ divorce bill’. By publishing the new paper, ministers will remind EU leaders how much the UK contributes to defence and security.
It will point out that the UK has the largest defence budget in Europe, and is one of only a handful of EU countries to meet the Nato target of spending 2 per cent of GDP on defence.
Last night a Government source raised the prospect of pulling back from sharing defence technology in the event of getting no Brexit deal. The source said: ‘ Britain has a world-leading defence industry which is key to military research and capability development across Europe.
‘ Our defence firms jointly develop cutting- edge equipment with many of our EU partners and Nato allies, and this plays a central role in ensuring we are effectively prepared to face a growing range of threats and challenges to our collective security. So this paper will say that we want a future partnership in which we can continue to collaborate with our European partners on defence research and capability development post-exit.’
Brexit Secretary David Davis said: ‘After we leave the European Union we will continue to face shared threats to our security, our shared values and our way of life. It’s in our mutual interest to work closely with the EU and its member states to challenge terrorism and extremism, illegal migration, cybercrime, and conventional statebased military aggression.’
Defence Secretary Michael Fallon added: ‘At a time of increased threats and international instability the UK remains unwavering in its commitment to uphold European security.’