Keir Starmer announces UK to send warships to northern waters in major security move
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer announced the United Kingdom will deploy its aircraft carrier strike group to the North Atlantic and the High North later this year, marking a show of force as security tensions escalate across Europe.
Speaking on Saturday at the annual Munich Security Conference in Germany, Starmer said the mission would be led by HMS Prince of Wales and carried out alongside the U.S., Canada and other NATO allies.
"I can announce today that the U.K. will deploy our carrier strike group to the North Atlantic and the High North this year, led by HMS Prince of Wales, operating alongside the U.S., Canada and other NATO allies, in a powerful show of our commitment to Euro-atlantic security," Starmer told the high-profile forum aimed at strengthening European defense and diplomatic ties.
His announcement came in a speech where the PM also warned Europe must be ready to "fight" to deter Russian aggression in the event of a peace deal with Ukraine.
Announcing the warships, he said: "I can announce today that the UK will deploy our carrier strike group to the North Atlantic and High North region this year, led by the HMS Prince of Wales, operating alongside the US, Canada and other NATO allies in a powerful show of our commitment to Euro-Atlantic security".
Mr. Starmer told European leaders they must not dither as “Russia has proved its appetite for aggression”, and pledged Britain would defend its allies if called upon.
Earlier, the PM said: “To break the convention of a thousand speeches, we are not at a crossroads. The road ahead is straight and it is clear. We must build our hard power, because that is the currency of the age. We must be able to deter aggression , and, yes, if necessary, we must be ready to fight.
“Because we know that in a dangerous world, we would not take control by turning inward, we would surrender it, and I won’t let that happen.
“That’s why I devote time as Prime Minister to Britain’s leadership on the world stage, and that’s why I’m here today, because I am clear there is no British security without Europe and no European security without Britain. That is the lesson of history, and is today’s reality as well.”
The PM also faced questions about his difficult week, in which the Scottish leader Anas Sarwar called for him to resign. Asked whether his domestic challenges left him vulnerable, the PM insisted he “ended the week much stronger than I started it.”
He added: “And that’s a very good place to be, and my party and my Government is completely united on the question of Ukraine and defence and security and the need for stronger relations with Europe on defence, on security and on economy as well. And so I think that there is real strength in the position I’ve now set out.”
Speaking before the PM, the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio hit out at the mistakes of Western nations over the past 40 years, and snubbed a Ukraine meeting at the conference on Friday. US officials reportedly blamed scheduling conflicts but his absence may have been seen by Europeans as a sign of the White House’s dwindling interest in including them in its bid to end the conflict.
Earlier Defence Secretary John Healey said Britain would spend £400million developing long-range missiles this year to bolster European security. The cash will go towards next generation replacements of Storm Shadow missiles, which have been used by Ukraine to fire deep into Russia.
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