Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced that a group of European leaders will meet in London on 2 March to discuss joint defence and security plans, according to Politico.
The meeting comes ahead of a special summit of European Union leaders scheduled for 6 March, where the European Commission is expected to unveil a comprehensive defence package.
Tusk made the announcement after a meeting with European Council President António Costa, emphasising the need for greater mobilisation of European resources for defence and security.
I hope … that this greater mobilisation of Europe, both member states and Europe as a whole, when it comes to defence and security funding, will become an unequivocal fact.
The London meeting will include discussions with British officials, as the UK remains a key player in European security despite its exit from the EU. The talks are expected to focus on strengthening defence cooperation and addressing the growing security challenges in the region, including the war in Ukraine.
Costa also announced a video conference of EU leaders on Wednesday morning to debrief on French President Emmanuel Macron’s recent visit to Washington. Macron reportedly met with US President Donald Trump on Monday to advocate for security guarantees for Ukraine.
Trump’s recent comments questioning US involvement in the conflict and referring to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as a “dictator without elections” have raised concerns among European leaders. British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who is set to meet Trump on Thursday, announced on Tuesday that the UK will increase its defence spending to 2.5% of GDP starting in 2027.
The upcoming meetings in London and Brussels are expected to lay the groundwork for a unified European approach to defence, ensuring that the region is better prepared to address emerging threats and support Ukraine.
