The strings attached include a “non-divergence agreement” aimed at cutting reliance on suppliers outside Europe, raising alarm that Britain would surrender control over defence policy to Brussels. Joining Safe would form part of a wider military pact first discussed at Sir Keir’s “Surrender Summit” in London last year.
During those talks to “reset” relations with Brussels, Labour gave away British fishing rights and indicated it was open to allowing more young Europeans to live and work in the UK. Sir Keir, who backed Remain in the referendum and later called for a second vote, is now driving for tighter ties with the EU despite the public voting to leave.
France’s defence minister Catherine Vautrin said the demands on Britain for joining Safe were “very onerous” but added that the UK “chose to leave Europe with Brexit […] and unfortunately that choice has consequences”.
Professor Gwythian Prins, who previously advised the Chief of Defence Staff, told the Mail on Sunday that siding with Brussels over Washington would be disastrous.
He said: “This is utterly deadly for our national security. As with the bizarre Chagos giveaway, we must not pay for the privilege of damaging national security.”
He added: “The EU thinks it is Hotel California. You can check out any time you like but you can never leave. But we can – and we must – to defend our sovereignty.”
A separate source said voters’ “eyes will just glaze over” at the technical details in the Safe deal, “but the devil is in the detail”.
Sir Keir told reporters during his China visit: “I do think on spend, capability and co-operation we need to do more together.”
He added: “I have made the argument that it should require us to look at schemes like Safe and others.”
Whitehall and Brussels have spent months haggling over the price Britain would pay but remain deadlocked.
Brexit minister Nick Thomas-Symonds told the Commons last week: “On participation in Safe […] I always said throughout the negotiation that I would only sign up to things that involved value for money. I did not take the view that in this case, it did offer value for money.”
Talks broke down in November though the European Commission has left the door open to reviving them.
An agreement struck with Brussels in May allows British firms to supply components for European military projects funded by Safe, though they can only provide up to 35% of any finished product’s value.