Talks for UK to join EU defence fund collapse in blow to Starmer’s bid to reset relations

UK had been pushing to join 150bn Safe fund, a loan scheme that is part of bloc's drive to rearm Europe

Keir Starmer's attempt to reset relations with the EU have suffered a major blow, after negotiations for the UK to join the EU's flagship 150bn (131bn) defence fund collapsed.

The UK had been pushing to join the EU's Security Action for Europe (Safe) fund, a low-interest loan scheme that is part of the EU's drive to boost defence spending by 800bn and rearm the continent, in response to the growing threat from Russia and cooling relations between Donald Trump's US and the EU.