Keir Starmer embraces a closer European future

At the Munich Security Conference, Keir Starmer argued for closer European defence and economic cooperation; the article praises that stance while warning against exaggerated historical comparisons and reopening the Brexit debate.

Prime Minister Keir Starmer spoke at the Munich Security Conference advocating closer defence cooperation and tighter economic alignment with European partners. The article commends the clarity of his address and says it struck a balance between resisting the tone of former President Trump and urging greater European autonomy in defence. It records his call for a generational shift in defence industrial cooperation and links closer ties to security and growth. The piece also cautions against making hyperbolic historical comparisons and against reopening the EU referendum debate. Main points: - Starmer used the Munich platform to press for greater European defence cooperation and closer economic alignment with the EU. - He called for a generational shift in defence industrial cooperation, tying industrial alignment to security and economic growth. - The article says the speech balanced criticism of Donald Trump’s tone with an argument that European autonomy would not signal US withdrawal. - It warns that comparisons between Vladimir Putin and Nazi Germany are unwise and could undermine the case for higher defence spending. - The piece criticises attacks on the Green Party and Reform as unnecessary and suggests leaving judgments about those parties to the public. Summary: The article presents the speech as a clear case for deeper UK–EU cooperation on defence and defence-industry economics and notes this has domestic political implications. It also cautions against exaggerated historical comparisons and reopening the Brexit referendum debate. Undetermined at this time.