Britain’s Prime Minister Keir Starmer is urging Poland to award a multi-billion-euro submarine contract to Sweden’s Saab, a bid that could involve UK defence firm Babcock, according to reporting by Reuters.
Babcock declined to comment on any role in the proposal. A UK government spokesperson did not address Starmer’s reported intervention but said defence exports in warships and fighter jets were delivering billions of pounds to the economy and strengthening support for NATO allies.
Saab said its submarines are designed for Baltic Sea conditions and directed questions about London’s position to British authorities. Warsaw is expected to decide within weeks on the Orka programme, a central plank of its naval modernisation and push to deepen NATO cooperation as tensions with Russia rise.
Saab is competing against shortlisted rivals from Italy, Spain, France, Germany and South Korea. Two officials told Reuters that Starmer and Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson signed a joint letter backing Saab’s final offer, submitted in late October. One source said Babcock and other British partners would take part in the Swedish bid.
Polish reports suggest Germany, Italy and Sweden are leading contenders for the contract, which has triggered political manoeuvring across Europe as governments vie for defence work.
[Image: https://www.flickr.com/photos/number10gov/54776870025]