Britain and Europe pivot toward unified defence as transatlantic ties fray

T he dream of a sovereign, isolated British defence policy died not with a whimper, but with the sharp echo of the “Donroe Doctrine” across the Atlantic. For decades, the United Kingdom viewed its security through the lens of a “special relationship” that acted as a bridge between the New World and the Old.

Today, that bridge is being dismantled by a Washington administration that views allies as subordinates and security as a commodity.

The announcement this week that Prime Minister Keir Starmer is seeking a “reset” with Brussels — specifically targeting reentry into the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) pact — is more than a policy shift. It is a strategic surrender to reality. With a €150 billion (£130 billion) price tag for collective safety, the UK is finally admitting that the cost of standing alone is higher than the price of admission to the European core.