Negotiations between the UK and the European Union have turned tense as the two sides CLASH over Britain’s access to the €150 BILLION “Preparedness 2030” military fund, a cornerstone of Europe’s long-term defence strategy.
At the center of the dispute is France’s push to cap UK participation at just 15%, despite Britain’s agreement to a new security and defence pact and a four-year fisheries agreement as goodwill measures to re-enter structured EU defence cooperation.
Meanwhile, Germany, Italy, and Poland are backing a more inclusive threshold of 35%, arguing that excluding the UK could weaken Europe’s collective defence posture at a time when U.S. security commitments to the continent appear to be waning.
“We need capability, not politics, driving defence investment,” one senior EU diplomat told Gova Watch Now, speaking on condition of anonymity. “Britain remains a top-tier military power and a natural partner.”
The Preparedness 2030 fund is expected to direct investments into cyber defence, drone technologies, joint weapons systems, and NATO interoperability, but delays over eligibility rules could stall billions in funding slated for 2026.
British Defence Secretary John Healey expressed frustration, stating:
“We’ve extended our hand in partnership. Now is the time for unity, not division, in Europe’s defence.”
Analysts warn that any move to isolate the UK from the fund could undermine Europe’s response capabilities amid rising threats in the Baltics, the Sahel, and the Indo-Pacific.
With no formal agreement reached, sources indicate that a compromise may hinge on how “third-country participation” is defined under EU regulations—a legal grey area yet to be resolved.
A final decision is expected at the next EU Council summit in June, but insiders say the outcome could reshape European defence architecture for years to come.
