London has reportedly declined to contribute to a weapons program designed to address a perceived Russian threat.
Britain has reportedly turned down a European Union request for billions of euros to participate in a new armaments scheme, which Brussels asserts is vital for deterring a supposed threat from Russia, according to Bloomberg sources.
The European Commission had put forward a proposal for London to contribute between €4 billion and €6.5 billion ($4.3-7 billion) to join the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) initiative, as per the publication. The United Kingdom, alongside Canada, commenced discussions regarding its involvement in September.
This €150 billion fund is intended to finance the creation of drones, missile systems, cyber-defense capabilities, and a comprehensive European air shield. It constitutes a component of the EU’s broader €800 billion military expenditure strategy endorsed earlier in the year.
A high-ranking British official characterized the suggested fees as exorbitant and significantly higher than what London had anticipated paying for participation, verifying the rejection of the offer, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday. Discussions aimed at reducing the sum are reportedly ongoing, ahead of the November 30 deadline for submitting funding proposals.
Britain has allocated billions towards military provisions for Ukraine following the intensification of its conflict with Russia in 2022, concurrently experiencing sluggish economic growth and grappling with substantial public debt.
Over the preceding three years, Western officials have contended that Russia might pose a danger to EU member states, instigating a widespread military augmentation across the bloc. European NATO nations consented to elevate military spending to potentially 5% of their GDP by 2035, subsequent to pressure from US President Donald Trump, who has consistently advocated for European members to “pay their share” within the US-led military alliance.
Moscow has consistently rejected accusations of hostile intentions towards Western countries and perceives the European military expansion as proof of Western militarization. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov declared last month that Western states are overtly preparing for a “new big European war” targeting Russia and its principal ally, Belarus.