UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has called for the United Kingdom to consider rejoining talks for a defense agreement with the European Union. Starmer said Europe needs to "step up and do more" to protect itself amid global uncertainties. The UK previously entered talks for the EU's €150bn (£130bn) Safe defense fund but the discussions collapsed in November 2025, reportedly due to high entry costs and disagreements with France. However, the appetite for such a deal has grown again, especially after tensions like Donald Trump's Greenland threat and criticism of NATO. On a trip to China, Starmer said, "Europe, including the UK, needs to do more on security and defence ... That’s an argument I’ve been making for many months now." He added, "We’ve got to step up and do more. It’s not only President Trump who thinks Europe needs to do more but other presidents as well." Recent defense deals include a £10bn deal with Norway for warships and an £8bn sale of Typhoon jets to Turkey. Starmer noted that the UK should also look at bilateral deals and EU schemes like Safe. The Safe fund helps EU countries quickly build defense capabilities by lending money for equipment like missiles and drones. While the UK can't apply outright, joining under third-country rules could open contracts for British companies and boost the UK's defense industry. The EU asked for a €2bn UK contribution, but the UK offered hundreds of millions. Starmer faces party pressure for closer EU ties but rejected rejoining the customs union, citing conflicts with other trade deals. He criticised Nigel Farage’s Brexit promises, saying the past deal hurt the economy. Starmer aims to reset UK-EU relations with stronger cooperation on defense, energy, emissions, and trade at the upcoming summit.