A senior European Union official said Brussels intends to organise "informal retreats", starting with a meeting in Belgium on February 3 focused on security issues.

The encounter would be the first of its kind between the EU and Britain since London's 2020 departure from the bloc.

"For this one, the idea is to invite the secretary general of NATO and the UK prime minister," the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity.

The outreach to Starmer is part of efforts to forge better ties after the acrimony caused by Britain's exit from the EU.

The British prime minister -- who came to power in July -- made his first visit to Brussels last month to launch the long road to a reset.

As part of those efforts, he agreed with European Commission chief to start holding regular summits between the two sides from next year.

Starmer's government has mooted reaching a "security pact" with the EU but details so far remain vague on what that would entail.

The prime minister, who voted in the UK's 2016 Brexit referendum to remain in the EU, has insisted his reset will not mean reversing Brexit, which remains a politically toxic subject in the country.

The February talks on defence will come at a crucial juncture, just after Donald Trump assumes power in the United States.

Britain and the EU have been staunch supporters of Ukraine in its fight against Russia's invasion and are warily eyeing Trump's promises to end the conflict quickly.

Brussels is currently reshuffling its top leadership, with former Portuguese prime minister Antonio Costa set to replace Belgium's Charles Michel as head of the European Council on Sunday.