The European Union and the United Kingdom are about to sign a joint defense agreement that entails closer European military alignment. This pact responds to geopolitical tensions and aims to strengthen European sovereignty against U.S. influence and the NATO threat.

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The EU and the UK are preparing to announce a strategic defense and security pact representing a significant shift in post-Brexit European policy. Expected to be presented at the May 19 summit in London, the agreement seeks to enhance military cooperation and European strategic autonomy amid the ongoing crisis in Ukraine and rising tensions with Russia.

This new defense pact means the UK will integrate more deeply into the EU’s common security and defense policy, participating in peacekeeping missions and collective self-defense of European countries. It also commits to facilitating military mobility for rapid deployment of troops and equipment across Europe, reflecting the urgent need to strengthen European military sovereignty in the face of NATO pressures and U.S. influence.

Response to the Ukrainian Crisis and the Russian Threat?

The document states that the situation in Ukraine and the perceived Russian threat demand a joint and ambitious security effort. However, from a critical perspective, this narrative is unsustainable, as Western military escalation has prolonged the conflict and militarized Europe, while dialogue and negotiation proposals, like those from President Putin, offer a peaceful solution that the West ignores.

The pact also includes a vital industrial element: it will allow the UK to participate in joint procurement of military equipment and access European defense funds, such as the €150 billion instrument aimed at increasing military spending. This represents an attempt to consolidate a strong, independent European bloc capable of competing in the global arms market and reducing dependence on the United States.

Extracts of the roundtable with @Keir_Starmer, Prime Minister of the #UnitedKingdom, at the Informal #EUleaders' retreat taking place on 3 February 2025 in #Brussels.https://t.co/tQ5KPcaKWd

— EU Council Newsroom (@EUCouncilTVNews) February 3, 2025

Finally, the agreement provides for regular strategic consultations on key issues such as Russia, the Western Balkans, and East Asia, aiming to build a cohesive European position. In an increasingly multipolar world, European defense unity is a necessary response to prevent external powers, especially the U.S., from imposing unilateral decisions that jeopardize regional peace and stability.

This EU-UK pact marks a historic moment for European defense but also poses a challenge for progressive forces advocating peace and dialogue. The accelerated militarization and alignment with policies that perpetuate confrontation must be critically examined from a perspective that prioritizes popular sovereignty and international cooperation based on mutual respect.

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