UK PM Receives Nuclear Umbrella Proposal for EU Market Access

JAKARTA - British Prime Minister Andy Burnham has received a proposal linking the expansion of the British nuclear umbrella in Europe to the opportunity to return to the EU single market for goods trade.

Anadolu Agency, quoted on Monday, August 10, reported that the proposal was submitted by former Conservative MP Nick Boles and was published by The Telegraph on Sunday.

Boles proposed the formation of a "European Confederation" that would link the EU's free trade area with NATO defense commitments.

Under the plan, Britain will commit to spending 3.5 percent of gross domestic product on defense. London will also expand its nuclear umbrella to non-NATO countries that are currently not covered by the Trident nuclear weapons system.

Nuclear umbrella is a guarantee of protection that relies on the ability of a country's nuclear deterrent.

Ukraine, Switzerland, Norway, and the Western Balkan countries will also be invited to join the proposed framework.

In return, the proposal would invite Britain to join the EU's single market for goods without having to accept freedom of movement or become a member of the eurozone.

Boles said a new strategy for European cooperation was needed because there was no guarantee that US President Donald Trump, or future US presidents, would "defend Europe as they defend Kansas".

"If we try to conduct bilateral negotiations to persuade the European Union to give us access to the single market for goods, we will fail," Boles told The Telegraph.

According to Boles, the chances will be greater if Britain offers a proposal that also helps solve other problems facing the EU, including Ukraine.

"We can explain that this is not just an agreement that is important to the UK. This is an agreement that you can also use to solve your own problems," he said.

The Telegraph previously reported that former Prime Minister Keir Starmer had put forward the idea that Britain should have access to the EU's single market for goods.

Brussels is said to have rejected the proposal because it was not willing to give special treatment to Britain as long as the country remained outside the European Union.

Separately, a government source said a number of proposals were being drawn up to deepen cooperation between Britain and the EU.

According to the report, the proposals are expected to be discussed by the end of this year.