The UK is quietly but decisively stepping up its role in Europe’s defence manufacturing efforts, forging closer ties with key allies to jointly produce next-generation weaponry.
Defence Minister Maria Eagle has confirmed that Britain is actively working with European partners to co-develop and manufacture advanced weapons systems, as part of a growing number of multinational initiatives. The move comes amid heightened security concerns across the continent and increased pressure for European nations to strengthen joint defence capabilities.
In response to a written parliamentary question from Liberal Democrat MP Edward Morello, Eagle stated that the Secretary of State for Defence “continues to discuss defence capability matters, including on joint production, procurement and future development, with a range of our European Allies on a regular basis.”
The UK’s commitment to collaborative defence projects was underscored by a series of high-level engagements in March. These included bilateral talks in Paris with French officials on 11 March and follow-up discussions on broader European industrial collaboration during the E5 defence ministers meeting on 12 March.
Eagle confirmed that the UK is advancing “a number of initiatives” designed to drive multinational cooperation in weapons manufacturing. Among these are the UK-led Multinational Procurement Initiatives and the DIAMOND programme.
DIAMOND, which stands for Defence Industrial Agile Manufacturing of Next-generation Ordnance and Novel Devices, aims to boost interoperability, scale production, and support the joint development of cutting-edge weapons systems among aligned nations.
“We continue to promote and encourage European Allies to co-design, co-develop and co-produce,” Eagle said, signalling the UK’s ambition to remain a leading contributor to European defence capability, despite no longer being part of the European Union.
This strategic alignment reflects a broader shift across Europe towards collective procurement and industrial collaboration, as nations prepare to respond to rapidly evolving security challenges on their borders and beyond.
