BRUSSELS (May 19, 2025) — The European Union and the United Kingdom on Monday signed a new Security and Defence Partnership, marking a significant milestone in post-Brexit cooperation at the first EU–UK Summit.
The agreement establishes a formal framework for strategic consultations, joint initiatives, and the potential for the UK to participate in specific EU defence operations. Officials say the move comes at a critical juncture for European and global security, citing Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine and broader geopolitical instability.
“This agreement for a new EU–UK Partnership on Security and Defence shows our shared responsibility for security in Europe and beyond,” said Kaja Kallas, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. “We are determined to increase our cooperation in an increasingly dangerous and hostile global environment, whether that’s in tackling cybersecurity and hybrid threats or boosting collaboration between our defence industries.”
Kallas emphasized the deep alignment between Brussels and London, especially on Ukraine. “The EU and UK clearly see eye-to-eye on so many levels. We both see Ukraine’s security as our security. Today our message is simple: we are both committed to working together for our collective security, because we are all stronger when we do,” she added.
The partnership includes structured cooperation across a wide range of security domains, including peacebuilding, maritime and space security, counterterrorism, cyber threats, hybrid warfare, critical infrastructure protection, and the external dimensions of economic security and migration.
Both sides hailed the agreement as a symbol of their enduring strategic bond.
The partnership is part of the EU’s broader effort to deepen defence ties with key allies under its Strategic Compass policy. While non-binding, the pact formalizes what officials describe as a “tailored and mutually beneficial” relationship between the two sides.
As global power dynamics shift, EU officials say the UK’s role as a security partner is becoming more vital. Monday’s agreement reinforces that view, offering what both governments call a “concrete expression” of shared commitment in an increasingly volatile world.
Editor: Gabriel Ani
