France Blocks UK from €150bn EU Defence Fund Amid Growing Tensions

[Social Media]

 

Britain has been barred from accessing a massive €150 billion European Union defence fund after France successfully pushed for a policy that limits purchases to EU-based companies. The decision, which also excludes suppliers from the US and Turkey, marks a significant setback for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s efforts to forge a united European front against Russian aggression.

 

 

Under the European Commission’s new proposal, the EU fund—known as Security Action for Europe (SAFE)—will only consider purchasing British-made weapons if the UK signs a security pact with Brussels. France, however, has linked such a deal to fishing rights, further complicating negotiations. “Europe needs Britain’s defence industry a bit more than the French need a few extra fish,” a senior British government source said. “It is astonishing how puerile the French are behaving. They have not grasped the enormity of the moment.”

 

 

In recent weeks, President Emmanuel Macron has positioned himself alongside Starmer as a key figure in European efforts to boost military capabilities, particularly in response to former US President Donald Trump’s remarks casting doubt on NATO’s Article 5 commitment. Macron has called for Europe to “act united” in strengthening its defences. At the same time, however, France has spearheaded a diplomatic push in Brussels to adopt a “Europe only” procurement strategy—an approach that effectively shuts out major British defence firms like BAE Systems and Babcock from SAFE funding.

 

The exclusion policy specifically bans the purchase of advanced weapons systems where a non-EU country, such as the UK or US, has “design authority.” This is meant to prevent any non-EU country from influencing the use of weapons after they have been sold. The decision follows growing concerns in Europe over reliance on US arms, especially after Trump temporarily froze military aid and intelligence sharing with Ukraine. European leaders fear that Washington could withhold or even disable key weapons systems in the future.

 

The US was recently forced to deny the existence of a so-called “kill switch” on F-35 fighter jets, which are widely used by European militaries. Other US-made weapons, such as the Patriot air defence systems, have also been scrutinized despite their proven effectiveness in intercepting Russian cruise and ballistic missiles in Ukraine.

 

“We cannot have a situation where a non-EU country has control on the use or the destination of a weapon or a situation where objections can be made,” one EU diplomat said.

 

Macron has seized the opportunity to promote French-made military equipment as an alternative to American weapons. “Those who buy Patriot should be offered the new-generation Franco-Italian SAMP/T. Those who buy the F-35 should be offered the Rafale,” he said last weekend.

 

However, other European countries, including Germany and Poland, have resisted Macron’s push for French arms. “Unfortunately the French is just not as good or as easily available,” a European diplomat remarked.

 

Despite being locked out of the EU fund, Britain is still working on a broader European defence initiative. Starmer is collaborating with European nations on the creation of a €600 billion “rearmament” bank, which would be independent of the EU to prevent pro-Kremlin countries like Hungary from blocking defence spending decisions.

 

British officials remain hopeful that countries such as Germany could still choose to buy from UK defence firms outside of the EU’s joint funding mechanisms. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz recently adjusted the country’s borrowing rules to finance a significant expansion of defence spending.

 

Meanwhile, it has emerged that the UK’s National Wealth Fund—despite its £28 billion budget—will not prioritize defence as a key sector. Instead, the fund will focus investments on clean energy, advanced manufacturing, digital technologies, and transport.

 

Based on a report by The Times  2025-03-22

 

 

[Gsxrnz]

All of Europe better do something to appease the disenfranchised young male population, because in time of need they won't have enough willing bodies to pull the triggers or fly the planes.

 

The real problem might be who will actually build the internment camps to hold all the conscientious objectors. 

[Jeff the Chef]

23 minutes ago, Gsxrnz said:

All of Europe better do something to appease the disenfranchised young male population, because in time of need they won't have enough willing bodies to pull the triggers or fly the planes.

 

The real problem might be who will actually build the internment camps to hold all the conscientious objectors. 

Couldn't agree more, the 18 to 35 brigade will have no enthusiasm for any type of conflict unless it's on a computer screen, East or West, far to well informed, unlike our ancestors lost in the last exercises of 1914/18 and 1939/45, and rightly so imho, the politico's want a rumble, there's a ring sort yourselves out. 

[blazes]

So much for the "coalition of the willing"!!!

 

Also, a reminder of why the UK needed to brexit...

[Hakuna Matata]

Not everyone in power in Europe has gone mad: an encouraging bit of news from….Belgium

 

In the past several weeks, GD has written a couple of essays on how Belgians are viewing Russia and its war in and over Ukraine.

In one article, he put the spotlight on the newly installed Minister of Defense, Theo Francken, who a decade ago was bold and exposed the government and media lies about the illegal migrants who overwhelmed Europe, including Belgium, in 2015, but now has been promoting the government and media lies about ‘democratic’ Ukraine struggling for its life against its aggressive neighbor, Russia. In another article, GD discussed how not only Belgian elites but also Belgian middle classes have been brainwashed by official anti-Russian propaganda to the point where they say they approve the introduction of the military draft and are ready to send their sons to fight the Russians on the front lines.

Now, based on today’s news in Politico, which surely many of you read, GD wishes to leaven our thoughts about how much Belgians want war by calling attention to an article that may have escaped you: https://www.politico.eu/article/seizing-russian-frozen-assets-act-of-war-belgian-pm-bart-de-wever/

It appears that the Belgian Prime Minister, Bart De Wever, Theo Francken’s boss, has commented to journalists following yesterday’s gathering of heads of European governments here in Brussels, saying that ‘seizing frozen Russian assets is an act of war’ and should not be considered at all.

In actual fact, confiscation of the enemy’s assets usually follows rather than precedes a declaration of war, but that is a minor detail. Perhaps the link between the two is the reason why Russia never formally declared war on the United States and on certain EU Member States after identifying them as de facto co-belligerents last summer over their targeting assistance to Ukrainian long range missile strikes within the Russian Federation.

Why would a Belgian PM have anything to say on the subject? Because of the 300 billion euros of Russian Central Bank assets that countries in the West have seized, 200 billion is sitting here in Euroclear, a financial institution based in Brussels.

De Wever went on to say that confiscation of the Russian assets would endanger the entire global financial system, and it would prompt counter measures by Russia that should be avoided.

And so, as it turns out, not all of the European leaders who gathered here yesterday have lost their minds, even if the biggest loudmouths – including Emmanuel Macron, Friedrich Merz, Ursula von der Leyen and the now ubiquitous Kaja Kallas are good candidates for padded cells in mental institutions.

©GD, 2025

[blazes]

9 minutes ago, Hakuna Matata said:

In the past several weeks, GD has written a couple of essays on how Belgians are viewing Russia and its war in and over Ukraine.

 

Who's GD when he's at home?

[stevenl]

13 minutes ago, blazes said:

So much for the "coalition of the willing"!!!

 

Also, a reminder of why the UK needed to brexit...

Lol, without Brexit there wouldn't be an issue. EU fund so EU purchases makes sense.

[thaibeachlovers]

45 minutes ago, Jeff the Chef said:

Couldn't agree more, the 18 to 35 brigade will have no enthusiasm for any type of conflict unless it's on a computer screen, East or West, far to well informed, unlike our ancestors lost in the last exercises of 1914/18 and 1939/45, and rightly so imho, the politico's want a rumble, there's a ring sort yourselves out. 

I'd like to think they would refuse based on some noble belief that war is bad, but sadly, IMO it would be because they are lazy, fat and don't want to give up mummy's cooking.

 

Never mind, whatever reason they refuse to go and die for the 1%, that's a win for sanity.

[newbee2022]

1 hour ago, Social Media said:

Macron has seized the opportunity to promote French-made military equipment as an alternative to American weapons. “Those who buy Patriot should be offered the new-generation Franco-Italian SAMP/T. Those who buy the F-35 should be offered the Rafale,” he said last weekend.

Exactly ❤️

[thaibeachlovers]

17 minutes ago, Hakuna Matata said:

And so, as it turns out, not all of the European leaders who gathered here yesterday have lost their minds, even if the biggest loudmouths – including Emmanuel Macron, Friedrich Merz, Ursula von der Leyen and the now ubiquitous Kaja Kallas are good candidates for padded cells in mental institutions.

Well said.

That Ursula woman must spend a fortune on hair spray.

[Ben Zioner]

The French don't see the threat of war as real. Associating fishing rights with the upcoming fight for survival is criminal.

[sandyf]

2 hours ago, Social Media said:

They have not grasped the enormity of the moment.

The UK failed to grasp the enormity of brexit.

[Bkk Brian]

9 minutes ago, Ben Zioner said:

The French don't see the threat of war as real. Associating fishing rights with the upcoming fight for survival is criminal.

Bang on.

 

2 hours ago, Social Media said:

France, however, has linked such a deal to fishing rights, further complicating negotiations

 

 

Some more on the French demands and problem making here.

 

The Russians are at the gates. Obviously it’s time for France to pick a fight with Britain
What’s the most pressing issue? French fishing boats, or Russian warships?

 It is understood that the pressure for this comes from the French, who want concessions on access for French fishing vessels to UK waters as well as a “youth mobility scheme” which would allow 18-30 year-olds to work and live in each other’s countries. (The one-way mass flow of immigrants across the Channel is not counted.)  

https://archive.ph/M9bPl

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/03/21/eu-defence-fund-uk-locked-out-russia-marching/

[Chomper Higgot]

 

A reminder:

 

“Out means out!”

[shackleton]

The UK wanted Brexit so can't complain when the EU look only after themselves

Makes Sir Keith Starmer look a clown trying to get the UK to lead the party of the willing in the fight for Ukraine v the Russians 

Looks like Macron is calling the shots here 

[Watawattana]

Thought the UK did Brexit a few years ago.  Why is this a story?  Not blaming AN of course...  Where is the British response showing what the Brits have as alternates to F35 and patriot?

 

Ahem... 🇬🇧

[Bkk Brian]

2 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

 

A reminder:

 

“Out means out!”

Can the rest of Europe cope without the UK in this coalition of the willing?

[Purdey]

Can't have people screaming to leave the EU then screaming why can't everything be the same as when we were members.

[Chomper Higgot]

2 minutes ago, Purdey said:

Can't have people screaming to leave the EU then screaming why can't everything be the same as when we were members.

It’s all part of the ‘they need us more than we need them’ mindset.

 

 

 

[Bkk Brian]

2 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

It’s all part of the ‘they need us more than we need them’ mindset.

 

 

 

The EU is happy to sign a security pact with the UK, its only France and their fishing rights problem putting a spanner in the works. Why? is that more important than the Russia problem to France?

[BerndD]

"German Chancellor Friedrich Merz recently adjusted the country’s borrowing rules to finance a significant expansion of defence spending."

 

The German Chancellor is still Olaf Scholz. Only when the new government is formed will Friedrich Merz be elected as the presumably next chancellor.

[Mavideol]

2 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

 

A reminder:

 

“Out means out!”

some they still not understanding the word  EXIT

[Bkk Brian]

8 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

It’s all part of the ‘they need us more than we need them’ mindset.

 

You may have something there.

 

Problem solved..............

 

"The UK is definitely included." Sky's @tamcohen asks the EU Ambassador to the UK Pedro Serrano about reports that UK defence companies would be excluded from the EU's rearmament plans. 

 

 

[candide]

4 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

You may have something there.

 

Problem solved..............

 

"The UK is definitely included." Sky's @tamcohen asks the EU Ambassador to the UK Pedro Serrano about reports that UK defence companies would be excluded from the EU's rearmament plans. 

 

 

It must be voted by member States (the Council), it cannot be decided by the EC.

 

It should be reminded that it takes years to fulfil orders, in particular for the most complex arms, such as jet fighters. There is a bit time available for negotiations...

[Bkk Brian]

7 minutes ago, candide said:

It must be voted by member States (the Council), it cannot be decided by the EC.

 

It should be reminded that it takes years to fulfil orders, in particular for the most complex arms, such as jet fighters. There is a bit time available for negotiations...

So you are disputing what the EU Ambassador to the UK Pedro Serrano said? "that is not the case"

 

There is not years available by the way. Orders need to be signed now with contractors no matter how long it takes to fulfill them.

[FritsSikkink]

37 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Can the rest of Europe cope without the UK in this coalition of the willing?

Better than the other way around or do you still think Britain rules the waves?

[Sir Dude]

Maybe the UK should just shrug its shoulders and spend all our money for the armed forces with UK and US defence companies for what we need, and let the French cry over their breakfast croissants regarding fishing rights... typical petty bourgeois French spite.

[bkk6060]

They all seem like a bunch of childish babies.

[Bkk Brian]

4 minutes ago, FritsSikkink said:

Better than the other way around or do you still think Britain rules the waves?

Mind reader now? When did I think the UK ruled the waves?

[FritsSikkink]

2 minutes ago, Bkk Brian said:

Mind reader now? When did I think the UK ruled the waves?

It is a question: Question mark - Wikipedia