UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has urged European NATO members to reduce their “overdependence” on US security guarantees and pursue greater defence autonomy and “hard power.” Speaking in advance of the Munich Security Conference, Starmer argued that Europe must shift towards “interdependence” to achieve “sovereign deterrence,” describing the continent as a “sleeping giant” whose military potential often amounts to “less than the sum of its parts.”
The call aligns with a sustained push from Washington for allies to increase military spending. President Donald Trump has long pressured NATO members to ramp up defence budgets, leading the alliance to commit to a new target of 5% of GDP. This pressure creates a complex transatlantic dynamic, with the UK, a traditional bridge between the US and Europe, now explicitly advocating for a more independent European defence posture.
Starmer’s stance is mirrored by French President Emmanuel Macron, who reiterated the need for Europe to become a “geopolitical power” by accelerating its capabilities in defence, technology, and de-risking from major powers. Macron’s long-standing proposal for a “European army” faces significant public scepticism, with recent polls showing majority opposition in key nations like Germany and France.
The context for these calls is stark. UK officials warn that the British military would be severely disadvantaged in a conflict with a “near-peer” adversary, citing years of underfunding. Reports indicate the army could exhaust its ammunition stockpiles within days in a large-scale war, underscoring the capability gaps Starmer referenced.
This push for autonomy occurs amid a specific rift between the US and European allies over President Trump’s expressed interest in acquiring Greenland from Denmark. While EU nations have rallied to defend the island’s sovereignty, the episode highlights divergent strategic priorities that may weaken transatlantic consensus.
Analysts suggest the convergence of US spending demands and European capability shortfalls is forcing a recalibration. TheUK’s position signals a desire to lead a European defence effort that complements, rather than solely relies on, the US nuclear umbrella. However, translating this political rhetoric into tangible military integration and budgets remains a formidable challenge, given divergent threat perceptions and domestic political constraints across the continent.
The Munich Speech is expected to frame this not as a decoupling from the US—which Starmer called an “indispensable ally”—but as a necessary maturation of European security responsibility. The effectiveness of this strategy will depend on sustained political will and public support across EU and NATO member states, a factor currently in doubt despite widespread anxiety about global stability.
