The 62nd Munich Security Conference is being held at the Bayerischer Hof Hotel in Munich, Germany, from Friday to Sunday. More than 60 heads of state and government, 50 leaders of international organizations and participants from at least 115 countries are participating in this event.

On this occasion, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer stressed the need to build hard power for Europe and be ready to fight if needed.

He said, “Today we are not at any crossroads, the path ahead is straight and it is clear that we have to build our hard power, because this is the currency of this era.”

“We must be able to deter attack and, yes, we must be prepared to fight if necessary, do whatever it takes to defend our people, our values ​​and our way of life, and as Europe we must stand on our own feet,” PM Starmer said.

Speaking in Munich, Starmer said Britain should look at areas where it can move closer to the European Union’s single market. “We look forward to working together to lead generational change in defense industrial cooperation,” he said.

Six years after Britain left the European trading bloc, he said, “This now includes a focus again on closer economic alignment. Deeper economic integration is to the benefit of all of us, so we should look at how we can get closer to the single market in other sectors too, where it will work for both sides.”

EU Commission Chief von der Leyen said Europe and Britain need to cooperate more closely on security, the economy and protecting our democracy. He further said, “Europe and especially Britain must come closer to each other. Even after 10 years of Brexit, our future is as tied as ever.”